UK health ministers are forcing supermarkets and other retailers to stock low-alcohol percentage wines in a bid to fight against problem drinking.
The move is part of an effort to change the European Union rules for the minimum strength of drinks.
According to ministers, minimum strength of still wine should be reduced from current 8.5% ABV to 4.5% ABV to be categorized under wine.
UK Health Minister Earl Howe was quoted by The Telegraph as saying that the market for low-alcohol wines has been increasingly rapidly in recent years and promoting low ABV wines was in the long term interests of customers.
"The government has consistently made the case for change to the EU wine rules to permit reduced and de-alcoholised products to be called wines," Howe added.
A government spokesman told the website that they want to encourage alcohol manufacturers to make lower alcohol alternatives - these rules do not help their cause.
"We will continue our efforts to change EU wine rules, to allow all wine producers to make and market lower alcohol products. This will help to help promote healthier choices and tackle the serious harm alcohol causes," spokesman said.
