UK

In the UK, devolved political authorities, as well as local authorities, have responsibility for various aspects of alcohol policy. However, the UK government retains control over levels of alcohol taxation, drink drive limits and alcohol advertising. 

•  Taxation

Rates of alcohol duty are set by the UK Treasury and are levied on all alcoholic drinks sold in the UK. Beer and spirits are taxed in relation to their alcohol strength, with the duty on spirits applied per litre of pure alcohol and the duty on beer applied per hectolitre per cent of alcohol in the beer. For wine, cider and perry, rates of duty are fixed by volume, per hectolitre of the product.

In March 2008, the UK Chancellor raised excise duty on alcohol by 6% above inflation with a commitment to increase duties by 2% above inflation for each of the following four years. See HM Revenues and Customs for current rates of alcohol duty.

Increasing alcohol price is known to be the single most effective policy measure for reducing alcohol consumption and harm.

• Drink drive limits

At present the legal alcohol limit for driving in the UK is 80 milligrams (mg) of alcohol per 100ml of blood, which equates to 35 micrograms (mcg) of alcohol per 100ml of breath. For most other countries in the EU, the legal limit is 50mg.

The Scottish Government, as well as many other public bodies in the UK, has called on the UK Government to reduce the drink drive limit to 50mg. Research has shown that reducing the blood alcohol limit to 50mg could prevent 50-65 fatalities per year.

• Alcohol advertising

Control over telecommunications and broadcasting – the main media through which the alcohol industry promotes and markets its products – is reserved to the UK Parliament. At present, alcohol advertising in the UK is regulated by a mix of statutory codes and self-regulatory standards, through Ofcom and the Advertising Standards Authority.

Advertising rules currently ban alcohol adverts that particularly appeal to young people under 18 years, and that link alcohol with sexual success or irresponsible or anti-social behaviour. There is however no restriction on the volume of adverts. The UK Government is currently consulting on whether the current restrictions on advertising are sufficient to protect children and young people and say if new evidence emerges that alcohol advertising increases the risk of harm to consumers then the regulators will need to consider this and take appropriate action. The consultation document, Safe, Sensible and Social – Consultation on further action, is available on the Department of Health website, and the consultation period ends on 14 October 2008.