Premixed drinks that could be banned

A new alcohol guideline could see restrictions around popular ready-to-drink beverages tightened over a belief that it appeals to minors.

A new alcohol guideline could see restrictions around popular ready-to-drink beverages tightened over a belief that it appeals to minors.

Liquor and Gaming NSW is looking at new guidelines that will regulate alcoholic versions of soft-drinks and ready-to-drink beverages. It specifically wants to crack down on confectionary-flavoured and dessert products or colourful designs. This includes flavoured vodkas and alcoholic ginger beer.

This is over a fear the beverages are becoming more prevalent. The main concern is the drinks appeal to young people.

Liquor and Gaming NSW have proposed new drink guidelines. Picture: Central Hotel Cootamundra/Facebook

It’s not an unsurprising move after the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code Scheme (ABAC) backflipped on a decision about Hard Solo in November 2023. ABAC had previously ruled Hard Solo was an appropriate product and consistent with the requirements of the Code.

However Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) was forced to change the name of its ready-to-drink alcohol lemon beverage to Hard Rated. An ABAC review panel found it breached the Code standard in relation to strong or evident appeal to minors.

The Australian drinks manufacturer said it is “disappointed by the outcome” but accepted the decision.

“As we comply with the ABAC decision and the Hard Solo brand exits the market, we’d like to assure the many Australian adults who have loved Hard Solo that the taste won’t change when the name changes to Hard Rated,” a spokesperson said at the time.

news.com.au understands the guidelines will support beverage companies in producing and marketing new products. It will also outline what steps the NSW Government will take when deciding if products are deemed “undesirable”.

Products will be looked at on a case-by-case basis.

But the proposed guidelines aren’t new laws. They are providing guidance on how the body will assess the drinks in a bid to make sure they aren’t marketed to minors.

The crackdown relates to dessert and confectionary flavoured premixed drinks. Picture: iStock

“New product and packaging guidelines are being developed to ensure liquor products are being designed, packaged and promoted in compliance with NSW legislation and community expectations,” a spokesperson from Liquor and Gaming NSW told news.com.au.

“The new guidelines will help provide certainty to industry about Liquor & Gaming NSW’s (L & GNSW) approach to enforcing existing legislation.

“L & GNSW is currently consulting on a draft version of the guidelines with relevant health and industry stakeholders, and will publish the final guidelines after consultation.

“L & GNSW will consider feedback from consultation before finalising the guidelines.”

However not everyone is impressed by the move.

Michael Waters, Retail Drinks Australia CEO, said the idea of policing “taste profile” was a spot of “concern” for the industry.

Meanwhile an industry source told the Saturday Telegraph: “This decision empowers unelected bureaucrats to become pseudo ‘taste police’ cruising the aisles of the local bottle-o and banning drinks they decide are too fun.”

John Ruddick, Libertarian MP, told the publication it was the “definition of a nanny state gone mad”.