No, low and mid-strength drinks sector urged to help shape upcoming legislation

No, low and mid-strength drinks advocate Club Soda is calling on sector suppliers to help influence the direction of upcoming government legislation affecting alcohol alternative beverages.

Before the end of the year, the government will be changing alcohol-free descriptors – what can legally be called ‘alcohol-free’, as well as making recommendations on whether alcohol-free should be treated the same as alcohol (from advertising to age ID) and exploring how to support growth in the sector.

Earlier this year, a health minister mulled the prospect of banning low and no alcohol drinks for under 18s, fearing that they could be “a gateway” to their alcoholic equivalents.

Ahead of upcoming changes, Club Soda has launched what is believed to be the first benchmarking survey of its kind, aimed at gathering the data needed to inform policymaking.

The survey will assess the size of the market, its current contribution to the UK economy and its future growth potential, in response to questions from DEFRA as it considers how best to support the sector.

“This is one of those moments where the sector either shows up, or gets shaped without us,” said Laura Willoughby, co-founder of Club Soda, and one of The Caterer’s Drinks Doctor panellists. “The decisions being made this year will have long-term consequences for how alcohol-free and mid-strength drinks are produced, marketed and sold in the UK.”

As part of this work, Club Soda is engaging directly with government departments, working alongside trade bodies, developing a sector-wide manifesto outlining key policy priorities, and creating tools to support industry engagement with policymakers.

UK based low, no and mid-strength drink producers are now being asked to contribute to the benchmarking survey by Friday 24 April to ensure the sector is accurately represented in these discussions.

Willoughby added: “This is a rare opportunity to ensure the sector is properly understood at a policy level. The more voices we have, the stronger that case becomes.”

Club Soda is currently on the hunt for a new tasting room site, after its Covent Garden premises in London closed in January.