A proposed new alcohol guideline that seeks to tighten regulations around popular RTDs has sent shockwaves through the drinks industry.

Liquor and Gaming NSW is considering new guidelines that crack down on sweet RTDs such as flavoured vodkas, alcoholic ginger beer and whiskey and cola, due to fears they are too attractive to young people.

The draft guidelines have been circulated to the industry for feedback, leading to concerns that popular drinks will be banned.

The industry has been warned that some drinks could be considered “undesirable” and removed from sale if they taste too appealing, particularly RTDs featuring “confectionary or dessert-based” flavours.

According to The Daily Telegraph, one industry source said the decision “empowers unelected bureaucrats to become pseudo ‘taste police’ cruising the aisles of the local bottle-o and banning drinks they decide are too fun”.

Sky News host Caleb Bond mocked NSW bureaucrats for considering “extraordinary laws” to ban premixed drinks.

“In NSW, they are considering extraordinary laws to ban premixed drinks that they consider to be too tasty,” Bond said.

“The draft guidelines take aim at drinks which combine alcohol with popular soft drinks. What do they think they are actually stopping here? Except you being able to choose what you want to drink.”

A spokesperson for Liquor and Gaming NSW told news.com.au: “New product and packaging guidelines are being developed to ensure liquor products are being designed, packaged and promoted in compliance with NSW legislation and community expectations.

“The new guidelines will help provide certainty to industry about Liquor & Gaming NSW’s (L & GNSW) approach to enforcing existing legislation.

“Liqour and Gaming NSW is currently consulting on a draft version of the guidelines with relevant health and industry stakeholders, and will publish the final guidelines after consultation. Liquor and Gaming NSW will consider feedback from consultation before finalising the guidelines.”

However, Premier Chris Minns has come out in support of the drinks industry, saying “we’ve got to let people live their lives”.

“I think we can manage and moderate the risks of underage drinking without wiping out or stopping adults from making their own decisions in their life,” he said.

The furore follows Hard Solo being forced to rebrand earlier this year as Hard Target due to fears it appealed to minors.

The decision followed the release of the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code Scheme’s (ABAC) decision in response to complaints.

Despite ABAC pre-vetting considering Hard Solo an appropriate product and consistent with the requirements of the Code, the ABAC panel’s final determination found that the name Hard Solo breached the Code standard [s3(b)(i) on strong or evident appeal to minors].