What defines a substance as alcohol under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012?

A substance is defined as alcohol under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 if it contains 1.15% or more ethanol by volume. This definition is significant because it establishes the legal threshold for what is considered an alcoholic beverage. Anything below this percentage does not fall under the regulations applied to alcoholic drinks, which typically include licensing requirements for sale and distribution, restrictions on advertising, and age limits for consumption.

Understanding this threshold is important for compliance with the act, as it helps determine how various beverages are categorized and treated within the legal framework. For example, beverages with lower ethanol content may not require the same oversight or restrictions, allowing for different regulatory treatment compared to those that meet or exceed the 1.15% threshold. The higher percentage is indicative of the intoxicating properties of the substance and thus mandates that it be treated with more stringent regulations.