Alcohol 2025
| No. | Country | Tax (40) | Advertising (20) | Other (25) | Minimum pricing (10) | Alcohol display ban (5) | Total (100) |
|---|
Least free
Less free
Freest
Criteria
The alcohol category includes taxation (40%), advertising restrictions (20%), minimum pricing (10%), alcohol display ban (5%) and other (25%).
Taxation
Is divided into three categories of alcohol duty: beer, wine and spirits. Each has equal weighting. The data come from the European Commission (wine and spirits) and the Tax Foundation (beer). Tax rates are adjusted for median incomes. The country with the highest rate of tax scores 100. The other countries’ scores are based on their tax rate as a percentage of the highest taxing country. Calculations are made for each of the three types of drink, leaving a score out of 300 which is converted into a score out of 40.
Advertising
Is divided into three categories: broadcast advertising, outdoor advertising and sponsorship. These are subdivided into two further categories: wine/spirits and beer (wine and spirits tend to be subject to the same advertising restrictions). Each of the six resulting subcategories is given a score out of 10, with 10 representing a full ban and 0 representing no significant restrictions. This leaves a score out of 60 which is converted to a score out of 20.
Minimum pricing
Currently only applies to Scotland and Wales. It is worth up to ten points.
Retail display ban
Requires alcoholic beverages to be covered up or kept away from other groceries and is worth up to 5 points.
Other
Is made up of the following five subcategories with a total value of 25 points: retail monopoly, statutory closing time in the on-trade, zero or near-zero drunk driving limit, ban on promotions and drinking age.