Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to recent research on the marketing and consumption of no and low alcohol drinks in the UK published by the Institute of Alcohol Studies, what assessment he has made of the potential risk posed by the marketing strategies of those products in exposing children to alcohol brands.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) regulates the advertising of alcohol products through the Committee of Advertising Practice and Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice Codes. The rules within these Codes apply to advertisements featuring or referring to alcoholic drinks containing more than 0.5% alcohol by volume. The rules also apply to advertisements, while not specifically for alcoholic drinks, which have the effect of promoting them, such as soft drinks advertised as mixers. The ASA is currently consulting on new rules and guidance to regulate the advertising of alcohol alternative products. It will consider how these products should be marketed responsibly, including safeguarding people under the age of 18 years old and how such marketing intersects with current alcoholic products regulation. The consultation is open until 5 May 2022.