ALMR calls for ban on below cost selling

16th March 2009, 3:00pm

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers has today welcomed the Prime Minister's cautious reaction to proposals by Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer, for the introduction of a minimum price per unit of alcohol.

The trade body says that the plan would impose additional burdens on the responsible majority and urged the government to consider a ban on below-cost selling as an effective and targeted alternative.

The Association is making the recommendation as new Government evidence has come to light showing that the vast majority of heavy drinkers avoid pubs and bars.

In fact 74% of them do their heaviest drinking away from pubs, with 52% of them staying at home, according to the UK Statistics Authority.

The Association's beer price survey also reveals that it is now eight times more expensive to drink in a pub than to buy at a supermarket – thanks in part to successive swinging increases in alcohol excise duty which producers have passed on to bars but which supermarkets have refused to accept.

Commenting, ALMR Chief Executive Nick Bish says: "We agree with the health professionals that price and access are two of the most important drivers of alcohol consumption. But we fundamentally disagree on the action plan to tackle that. Government policies have made it much more expensive for people to drink in a pub – a controlled, well regulated environment – and fuelled increased consumption at home. A one-size-fits-all pricing approach will do nothing to address this.

"We do undoubtedly need urgent action on pocket money prices – but this is not it. Instead we would like to see is an immediate clamp down on the off-trade supply – with restrictions on access to product and a ban on below cost sales. It works effectively in many other EU countries and would be fairer, quicker and easier to apply than a minimum pricing scheme."

Related Articles:

• 20 Mar 2009 - ALMR Operations Managers Awards open for entries
• 18 Mar 2009 - New figures show 3.2% fall in alcohol consumption
• 17 Mar 2009 - Drinks industry leaders meet with the Chancellor
• 06 Mar 2009 - Closed pubs don't pay tax
• 17 Feb 2009 - Tories give pubs their support
• 09 Feb 2009 - Bar insolvencies up 45%
• 28 Jan 2009 - Pubs are 'supervised and responsible drinking environments'
• 09 Oct 2008 - ALMR welcomes support for anti-below cost campaign

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