Objective

To help encourage and promote the highest standards in alcohol retail.

Description

This Guidance for the Responsible Retailing of Alcohol in England and Wales builds on the success of schemes to prevent underage sales introduced by the Retail of Alcohol Standards Group. 

In December 2014 RASG published guidance on the responsible retail of alcohol in England and Wales. The guidance was the result of unprecedented collaboration between retailers and looks to establish standards for alcohol retailing for the first time. In 2017 the guidance was updated and enhanced by the Group to include best practice and case studies. Guidance for Northern Ireland and Scotland were also published for the first time.

It reflects changing priorities of the Group, to begin focusing on the broader aspects of alcohol retail. It is the first of its kind and establishes a high level of standards for retailers to operate to. It covers all aspects of alcohol retailing, including the legal and self-regulatory frameworks in which retailers operate, as well as voluntary measures they have agreed to undertake.

It is adopted by the Retail of Alcohol Standards Group retailers on a voluntary basis and is to be self-regulated by individual retailers.

Partners

A joint action by the Retail of Alcohol Standards Group:

Aldi UK and Ireland
Association of Convenience Stores
The Co-operative
Home Bargains
Lidl UK Gmbh
Marks and Spencer PLC
Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd
Spar (UK) Limited
Tesco Stores Limited
Waitrose
The Wine and Spirit Trade Association
WM Morrison Supermarkets PLC

Results

Retailers will take sufficient measures to follow this Guidance in all of their stores in England and Wales.  The RASG retailers will also support all non-RASG retailers that wish to follow the Guidance.

Members of RASG represent more than 92% of the UK’s supermarket chains and their guidance is used by many independent stores and smaller chains also.

Website

http://rasg.org.uk/guidance/

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