MPs have warned the competition watchdog they will not stop pounding on its door over Reducing the Strength schemes after it suggested they are not an urgent enough priority to act upon. Local councils have been accused of encouraging retailers to break competition law by sharing commercially sensitive information when promoting the schemes, which seek to prohibit the sale of beer and cider above a…

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…

Leading suppliers and trade associations have added their weight to OLN’s campaign against controversial Reducing the Strength schemes by demanding action from the European Commission. Brussels is currently investigating a complaint lodged by OLN calling for legal clarity about the initiatives, which ban the sale of beers and ciders that are over certain strengths, typically 5.5% abv. Nearly 100 schemes are now in place, despite…

Retailers could be entitled to compensation from councils that illegally enforce bans on certain products following a landmark case where loss of earnings put a store on the brink of closure. Legal advisers acting for Shabir Mohammed, owner of Lifestyle Express in Newcastle, said he planned to pursue the local authority after he lost £280,000 when he was banned from selling beers and ciders above…

The Competition and Markets Authority has admitted to MPs it failed to investigate councils it knew were breaking competition law and could be putting retailers at risk of significant fines and possible imprisonment. Senior MPs called the CMA to give evidence about Reducing the Strength schemes at the House of Lords yesterday in response to Off Licence News’ campaign into the controversial schemes. The initiatives,…