Reducing the Strength schemes are on the ropes as the buzz around them has died down and retailers are feeling confident to resist.  The schemes generated a lot of publicity after Ipswich gained national coverage for its scheme, which encouraged retailers to strip shelves of beer and cider with an abv of 6.5% and above. The schemes spread across the country to…

Local authorities are no longer making a big noise about new Reducing the Strength schemes but at ground level retailers are still being subjected to requests for conditions on their licenses, according to an expert.   Gill Sherratt, a licensing consultant for off-licences, told OLN: “I have not heard of any new schemes for a long time but the condition requests were always…

A Conservative MP has called on “misguided” local councils to stop demonising the cider industry by promoting Reducing the Strength schemes. The schemes involve council officers in various pockets of the UK visiting stores and pressuring retailers to strip shelves of beer and cider above a certain abv – typically between 5.5% and 6.5% – arguing it will prevent street drinking. Retailers are wary of…

The majority of consumers want more action to overturn Reducing the Strength schemes and are concerned councils are limiting the drinks they can buy. An exclusive poll conducted by Off Licence News and the Society of Independent Brewers found that eight out of 10 beer drinkers would support a stronger push to halt the controversial initiatives, which are now in place in nearly 100…

Innovation in the cider market is being stifled by Reducing the Strength schemes, which are preventing producers from launching products in the UK. The European Cider & Fruit Wine Association has severely criticised the schemes, which are active in 95 council boroughs, and has supported OLN’s campaign by writing to the European Commission demanding urgent action. The body’s secretary general, Jan Hermes, told the commission: “The…

Shopkeepers in Middlesbrough are refusing to cave in to pressure from the authorities to adopt a Reducing the Strength scheme that will damage their businesses. The council and local police force want retailers in the Gresham ward to strip shelves of beer and cider above 6.5% abv and it allegedly told them about a store called Multiculti that had agreed to change its licence accordingly.