Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what benefits they consider that the repeal of section 148 of the Licensing Act 2003 will have for children under 16.

The proposal to repeal the offence of selling liqueur confectionery to those under the age of 16 was developed following the Government’s consultation on the Red Tape Challenge. The measure aims to simplify legislation related to age-restricted sales and to reduce the regulatory burdens on retailers. The Government's impact assessment did not expect that under 16s would buy significantly more liqueur confectionery as a result of the measure and the Government believes that most of the liqueur confectionery which they may buy would replace other gift purchases of confectionery.