BarTalk

What do you think of super-markets selling cheap alcohol?

Alison Oxford

Three Compasses Hornsey

London N8

"It's a bad thing as supermarkets do not have checks as stringent as those we have at our pub about who we can and can't serve.

"It is unacceptable from the competition's point of view that the supermarkets can sell alcohol so cheaply.

"It is also unacceptable from the social point of view because it encourages people to drink too much at home."

Nigel Anstead

White Horse Bedford

Bedfordshire

"I am concerned about the effect it is having on the pub trade. Prices are so cheap that people are buying too much to take home and when they have got it at home, they will drink it.

"Our local Pubwatch adopts the Challenge 21 policy, but I am not convinced that supermarkets and off-licences are checking as thoroughly as they should that people are not underage."

Christine Mason

Bull Inn

Sonning

Berkshire

"It is killing off the pub trade. A lot of people are staying at home and if they don't get drinks cheaply in the supermarkets, they go on the ferries to get it.

"Cheap alcohol leads

to binge-drinking and alcoholism. When you see kids on the streets drinking, they most probably got their drinks from a supermarket or

corner-shop, yet it is pubs that get the blame."

Paul Belcher

Teddington Arms

Teddington Middlesex

"Obviously, supermarkets are catering for a different market and I don't think it makes too much difference as to whether people go to a pub or not.

"Some people will just stay at home and drink and never go to the pub. Even if tax is increased on supermarket drinks, they will still be able to buy it in bulk and sell it cheaply - that is probably more unfair on the brewers than it is for pubs."

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