Supermarkets face action in Scotland

Irresponsible alcohol promotions by supermarkets and off-licences are to be banned by the Scottish government.

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has announced that under the Scottish Licensing Act, which comes into force in 2009, a range of alcohol promotions in the off-trade will be illegal.

Regulations will include restrictions on the placement of alcohol - such as beer being displayed with barbecues - and the end of multiple purchases, such as two cases of beer for £10, or £20 for three.

MacAskill told delegates at the Alcohol Focus Scotland Licensing Conference in Aviemore: "There is something perverse in a country deluged by rain and surrounded by water that a bottle of cider or beer can be bought for less than a bottle of water.

"Alcohol is not just an ordinary commodity, to be picked up unthinkingly and thrown into the supermarket trolley along with milk and a loaf."

Arthur Grun, licensee of the Rose & Crown in Brokenborough, Wiltshire, has called for England and Wales to follow Scotland's lead. He said: "The off-trade should have a greater degree of control imposed on it. I find it staggering that Scotland can take unilateral action on this without embrassing the whole UK."

Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, welcomed the move but wants supermarkets to face more restrictions. He said: "We don't think this has gone far enough. We have always said that Scotland is a nation of take-home drinkers."

He said the crackdown should focus on high volume supermarket sales rather than smaller shops.

Mark Hastings, communications director of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: "What this speech emphasises is the excellent progress pubs have made in eradicating irresponsible promotions, a practice we would like to see spread to the off-trade."

Both the Scottish Retail Consortium and Wine & Spirit Trade Association have spoken out, claiming the regulations will penalise the majority of Scots, who are responsible consumers.

Comment from Adam Withrington, drinks editor​​

This is great news. For too long pubs have to cope with accusations that they encourage drunk and disorderly behaviour, when the supermarket and off-licence down the road have been promoting beer, wine and spirits to unacceptable levels.

Here we have prospective legislation that will prevent unreasonable promotion of alcohol.

The Publican's Dump the Deals campaign has never been about calling for a mass price hike in the off-trade. It is simply about getting supermarkets to sell alcohol in a responsible manner. Now that the Scottish Executive has taken these measures, those in Westminster need to do the same.