Crackdown on availability of cheap alcohol
Retailers will be banned from selling alcohol below the rate of duty + VAT under new plans announced by the Home Office today.
To tackle the growing concern over how cheaply some alcoholic drinks are being sold, the government intends to introduce a new proposal which would prevent retailers from selling a 1 litre bottle of vodka (37.5 per cent abv) for less than 拢10.71 and a 440ml can of lager (4.2 per cent abv) for less than 拢0.38.
This is an important first step in delivering the government鈥檚 commitment to ban the sale of alcohol below cost.
Minister鈥檚 quote
James Brokenshire minister for crime prevention, said: 鈥榃e know that pricing controls can help reduce alcohol-related violent crime and this is a crucial step in tackling the availability of cheap alcohol.
鈥業n nearly half of all violent incidents the offender is believed to be under the influence of alcohol. That鈥檚 why we believe it is right to tackle the worst instances of deep discounting.
鈥楤y introducing this new measure we are sending a clear message that the government will not stand by and let drink be sold so cheaply that it leads to a greater risk of health harms or drunken violence.鈥�
As part of the considerations of how to achieve the听coalition commitment to deliver a ban on below cost sales the Home Office carried out a review of alcohol pricing over the summer.
The review of pricing and associated research reports, also published today, not only shows the complex nature of this issue but demonstrates a link between a rise in the price of alcohol and a reduction in alcohol harms.
Notes to editors
1.听The government鈥檚 review of pricing and associated research reports can be found in the of this website.
2.听Examples of duty + VAT on a selection of alcoholic drinks:
Product: Can of lager
Volume:听440 ml
Strength (% abv):听4.2
Duty: 拢0.32
Duty + VAT: 拢0.38
听
Product:Bottle of cider
Volume: 1 litre
Strength (% abv):听4.5
Duty: 拢0.33
Duty + VAT:听拢0.40
听
Product: Bottle of wine
Volume: 750 ml
Strength (% abv):听12.5
Duty:听拢1.69
Duty + VAT:听拢2.03
听
Product: Bottle of whisky
Volume: 700 ml
Strength (% abv): 40
Duty: 拢6.66
Duty + VAT:听拢8.00
听
Product: Bottle of vodka
Volume:听1 litre
Strength (% abv):听37.5
Duty: 拢8.93
Duty + VAT:听拢10.71
3.听For more information ring the Home Office press office on 020 7035 3535.