§ Mr. Robert BanksTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has any plans for introducing a technical definition for low alcohol and non-alcohol beers.
§ Mr. RyderI have been asked to reply.
Proposals to amend the Food Labelling Regulations 1984 by restricting the use of the term "low alcohol" to alcoholic drinks not exceeding 1.2 per cent. alcohol by volume (abv) were circulated to interested organisations for comment on 19 April 1989. Schedule 7 of the Food Labelling Regulations 1984 already restricts the use of the terms "alcohol free", "non-alcoholic" and "dealcoholised". The term "alcohol-free" is restricted to drinks with an alcoholic strength of not more than 0.05 per cent. abv; the term "non alcoholic" to non-alcoholic wine intended for communion or sacramental purposes and the term "dealcoholised" is restricted to drinks from which the alcohol has been extracted and which have an alcoholic strength of not more than 0.5 per cent. abv.