Popular wines have alcohol levels cut — but prices have not followed suit

ALCOHOL levels in popular supermarket wines have been cut — but the prices have not followed suit.

It means shoppers are being charged the same for weaker plonk.

Chains and producers deny the move is typical “shrinkflation” — where product sizes are reduced but the price remains the same.

They say they are doing it to keep prices low after UK Government alcohol duty reforms, which mean stronger booze incurs higher taxes.

The Co-op has cut alcohol in a “handful of bottles” — including its £5.50 Fairtrade South African red wine, down from 13 per cent to 11 per cent.

And Chilean wine maker Isla Negra has dropped levels on its Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc to 10.5 per cent.

The wines — usually 12 and 11.5 per cent respectively — are sold in Tesco and Ocado for £5.75.

Wine expert Jamie Goode predicted “a race to the bottom”.

He said: “To keep low prices, quality will go down. It’s bad news for consumers.”

Before August, alcohol duty was typically £2.33 a bottle.

Now, for those between 11.5 and 14.5 per cent — which covers most bottles — it is up 44p to £2.67.

But, below that level duty gets progressively lower, and above it, progressively higher.

A Co-op spokesman said: “We slightly lowered the ABV on a very small number of key value lines where quality wouldn’t be compromised to protect our customers and members from price.”