In a letter signed by attendees at the recent Low, Light, and Alcohol-Free Summit in London, industry leaders highlighted how the current labelling regulations confuse consumers and prevent them from making informed choices about alcohol-free drinks.
Despite the Government acknowledging these issues a decade ago and holding two consultations, with the most recent being in 2023, no action has been taken to update the guidance hence the letter that has been sent to new health minister Andrew Gwynne.
Among the signatories are Luke Boase, founder of Lucky Saint and Chair of the Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association (ANBA) in the UK, alongside BBC Morning Live presenter and alcohol-free drinks advocate, Briony May Williams.
Quick win
The letter calls for the Government to align alcohol-free descriptors with global standards (≤ 0.5% ABV). As this change doesn’t require new legislation, it offers a quick win for public health, UK producers and the economy, the group said.
Signatories have invited the minister to meet and discuss the issue further, emphasising the urgency and widespread support for this straightforward yet impactful change.
Club Soda founder Laura Willoughby MBE said: “This should be a no-brainer for the minister. The consultation’s done, there is no need for new legislation, and the positive health and economic outcomes will become obvious in no time.
Final piece of the puzzle
“Alcohol-free drinks have already made it easier for people in the UK to cut down their drinking, brands have managed this with one hand tied behind their back. Sorting out these descriptors is the final piece of the puzzle that could permanently shift drinking habits in the UK for the better.”
Lucky Saint founder Luke Boase added: “The time is right for low and no-alcohol brands to collaborate with the Government and clear the path for further growth of the alcohol-free category.
“With evolving drinking habits and the desire from the Government to improve public health, alcohol-free drinks offer an important solution for both consumers and venues.
“We are proud of the positive impact we have had on the nation’s health and we’re excited to work with the Government to accelerate growth.”
Key section in the letter to health minister Gwynne
… outdated labelling confuses consumers about the alcohol content of drinks. ‘Alcohol-free’ and ‘low alcohol’ are used interchangeably for products at 0.5% and below (a trace element of alcohol present in many food products), even though their legal definitions differ. This confusion, which we observe daily at the Club Soda Tasting Room, hinders consumers from making informed choices.
The solution is simple: update the guidance on alcohol-free descriptors. This won’t require legislation, as the old descriptors were converted to guidance in 2018. By clarifying that ‘alcohol-free’ is 0.5% and below and create definitions for ‘low-alcohol’, we can empower consumers to choose suitable drinks and support UK producers, who currently face additional costs on labelling for the UK market.
≤ 0.5%ABV is the most common threshold for alcohol-free globally. This change would see the UK fall in line with most European countries, USA, Australia and many nations around the world...
