UK retailers design own alcohol guidelines
British retailers have collaborated for the first time to establish a set of best practice guidelines for the responsible service of alcohol.
The guidelines are designed to encourage retailers to sell alcohol more responsiblyThe guidelines cover current pressing issues such as pricing, promotions and even home delivery, as consumers increase their use of online shopping.
The 19-page guide, titled Guidance for the responsible retailing of alcohol in England and Wales, has been compiled by the Retail of Alcohol Standards Group (RASG), retailers, as well as the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) and Association of Convenience Stores (ACS).
Hardish Purewal, chair of the RASG, said: “Retailers take their responsibilities around the sale of alcohol very seriously, which is why the Retail of Alcohol Standards Group is building on the success of Challenge 25 and Community Alcohol Partnerships to develop this guidance.
Beyond the work already done on the responsible retailing of alcohol connected to underage drinking, this document sets out what further steps retailers are taking.”
Retailers have agreed to adopt several voluntary measures in addition to the mandatory legal obligations already exiting.
Among those outlined in the document are measure to avoid cross-promoting alcohol with products designed primarily for children; include clear unit content, NHS guidelines and drinking when pregnant warnings on all alcohol labels; make low-alcohol and non-alcohol beer cider or wines available in stores larger than 3,014sqft; and regard local schemes by enforcement agencies designed to reduce alcohol related crime and anti-social behaviour.
