Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether their partnership commitment to the Public Health Responsibility Deal prevents or inhibits them from halting the growth of sales of food infused with alcohol that can be sold to children under the age of 16.

Organisations signing up as partners to the Public Health Responsibility Deal commit voluntarily to play their part in improving public health. They lead the way in positively shaping and creating an environment that supports people to make informed, balanced choices and help them live healthier lives.

Under the Licensing Act 2003, any food item infused with alcohol whose strength exceeds 0.5% at the time of sale is classed as alcohol and cannot be sold to children under the age of 18. The Act sets out a number of exemptions to this definition including liqueur confectionery, which is further defined by the Act.

The Licensing Act 2003 requires licensed premises to operate an age verification policy. Through the Responsibility Deal, 68 companies, including 12 supermarket chains, have committed voluntarily to implement this requirement by ensuring effective action is taken in all their premises to reduce and prevent under-age sales of alcohol, by applying the standards set out in either the Challenge 21 or Challenge 25 schemes.