A POPULAR wine sold for under a fiver in Tesco has been reduced in strength – following an industry trend to make British alcohol weaker.
Sundown Beach White Zinfandel, made in the US, was 10.5 per cent two years ago, but fell to 8.5 per cent last year, and has now hit 8 per cent.
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The £4.50 sweet rosé has long been a favourite with fans of budget bevvies, but for some the change has come as a disappointment.
One said in the reviews: “Just ordered some of this and disappointed to note it’s gone from 10% to 8.5% wish I’d checked before ordering.”
Tesco has not confirmed the reason for the change, but a likely factor is recent changes to UK booze duty, which means stronger wines are charged at a higher rate of tax.
Two years ago, duty on a bottle of wine at 10.5 per cent was £2.23, the same as it would have been for an 8 per cent bottle.
Now, after a far-reaching tax reform introduced in February, duty on an 8 per cent standard (75cl) bottle of wine is £1.54, but £2.33 for a 10.5 per cent bottle.
It’s the reason many wines and beers have been lowered in strength in the past year, to avoid unnecessary price hikes and dents in profit.
Sundown Beach is only sold in Tesco, and is imported by the retailer’s Ireland division.
In November Sun Online reported how Taparoo Valley Australian Shiraz, also sold by Tesco, had fallen from 14 per cent in July 2022 to 11 per cent, although the price remained the same at £4.15.
Another Tesco wine, Caparelli Italian Rose Blush 75Cl, fell from 12 per cent to 11 per cent, with the price increasing from £4.29 to £5.50 in two years.
Tesco Green Ginger Wine went from 15 per cent in 2022 to 11.5 per cent.
Many brands of beer have seen similar changes, including Heineken’s Sol beer brand, down to 3.4 per cent ABV from 4.2 per cent, and John Smith’s Extra Smooth from 3.6 per cent to 3.4 per cent.
Tesco said: “We work with our suppliers to ensure that our own-brand wines offer great taste and value for our customers.”
Dr Katherine Severi, chief executive of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, said the government was trying to limit how much alcohol people are drinking.
She said: “Wine consumption in the UK has changed significantly over the years.
“We used to mainly drink European wines, which are typically lower in strength. But since the 1990s, there’s been a big rise in New World wines from hotter regions like South America and Australia, which tend to be stronger.
“So if producers are now lowering the strength of their wines, it’s partly a return to earlier norms.
“This shift is likely driven by the UK government’s decision to tax wine based on its alcohol content (ABV) rather than just volume.
“This brought wine and cider in line with how beer and spirits are taxed, and was designed to give producers a financial incentive to create lower-strength products.
“One of the goals is to help reduce overall alcohol consumption and related harm.”
She added alcohol deaths are at record highs, and more action is needed.
How to save money buying alcohol
Alcohol can be pricey if you’re planning a party or hosting an event but there are ways to cut costs.
It’s always important to drink responsibly, here, Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements share some tips on getting booze for the best price.
Stocking up can mean big savings on drinks, especially if you want to buy wine or fizz.
The big supermarkets regularly offer discounts of 25% when you buy six or more bottles of wine. The promotions typically run in the lead up to occasions such as Bank Holidays, Christmas and Easter.
If you know you are going to need booze later in the year, it can be worth acting when you see offers.
Before buying your preferred drink make sure you shop around to find the best price – you can use a comparison site such as pricerunner.com or trolley.co.uk.
Don’t forget that loyalty cards can unlock better savings so make sure you factor that in too.
If you like your plonk, wine clubs can also be a good way to save money and try new varieties. You’ll usually have to pay a membership fee in return for cheaper price so work out if you will be buying enough to make the one off cost worthwhile.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
