Warning: Tesco shelf labelling on alcoholic drinks

SidP

I was in a branch of Tesco today, and decided to try a low-alcohol beer. There was a shelf clearly marked as "Low Alcohol", with a range of drinks on them. One of them was Bud Light. Curious as to the actual ABV, I read the label and it read, 3.8%. On further inspection, all but one of the drinks on the shelf had an ABV of at least 2.8%, with the exception being 0.9%.

I checked online, and it appears that "low-alcohol" applies, in the UK, to drinks whose ABV is between 0.5% & 1.2%.

I brought the matter to the attention of the manager, but he was unaware of the laws surrounding this.

Aren't Tesco breaking the law here? So far as I know the shelf is still marked "low-alcohol".

I may have successfully attached an image below:

Storck

Unless the bottles and/or the packaging state it is low alcohol then no they are not breaking any law.

SidP

I have to admit I'm surprised if that's the case, but I don't have any evidence to the contrary, so I may take your word for it.

Would be odd, though, that a premises with an off-license should be allowed to market beer as low-alcohol when the regulations clearly state that anything above 1.2% isn't.

*shrug*

Storck

They will claim it was a genuine error, not on purpose. If you can show it was on purpose then maybe but I'd bet it was someone not following the laid out plans.

Are you sure it said low alcohol and not lower alcohol?

SidP

It's in the image: "low alcohol". The link doesn't always show, so don't be surprised if there isn't one at the top of this post.

wealdroam

A link to the image:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/oze7v5blw3y7u43/Photo%2019-09-2013%2018%2017%2021.jpg

googler

SidP wrote: »

It's in the image: "low alcohol". The link doesn't always show, so don't be surprised if there isn't one at the top of this post.

It took me three attempts to find the words 'low alcohol' in your picture, so it may well not be obvious to the staff...

Storck

From the picture I would say that someone has put the wrong shelf edge stripping on the shelf BUT I've just looked at TESCO online and their choice of low and non alcohol beer includes the Carling Zest and Mid Strength Guiness.

So I'm guessing they are probably not breaking any laws as they are usually good at check stuff out like that before running with it online and in stores.

OliveOil

They may say that what they class as 'Low Alcohol' is under 3% or something under Tesco Company Guidelines or Policy or something.. who knows what they could come up with these days!...:undecided

JReacher1

If you're that bothered to find a low alcohol aisle you would probably check the alcohol content. Anything less than 4% is quite low alcohol.

I think bud light is light because of the calories and not light because of the alcohol content.

Good_Goose

Low alcohol drinks should only be kept on the bottom shelf, to avoid me picking one up by mistake