Camra: We need minimum pricing

The Government must introduce a minimum price on alcohol to stop from the relentless supermarket onslaught of cut price booze from killing pubs — that's the view of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra).

Camra urged the Government to introduce a minimum price as it launched the Good Beer Guide 2009​ amid the bleak news that five pubs are now closing every day. Since 2002, off-trade beer prices have fallen by 7% while pub prices have increased 24%.

"Cheap beer in supermarkets — often sold at less than the price of bottled water — is killing the British pub", said Camra Good Beer Guide 2009 editor Roger Protz.

"Over 150 pubs a month are closing and the main reason is simple — people are abandoning their locals because they can buy cheap supermarket beer at a fraction of the price charged by pubs."

Despite a 10% rise in duty on beer in the Chancellor's Budget, prices in the off-trade have fallen by another 1% as supermarkets continue to sell alcohol as a loss-leader. In stark contrast, on-trade prices have risen 4.4% in the last year with the average pint now costing £2.82 as they are unable to demand wholesale discounts or absorb tax increases. A pint in the off-trade now costs 57p.

"When a pub closes the community's heart is ripped out and dies. It's a particular problem in rural areas, where the village pub is the heart of the community. People go to pubs for friendship, conversation, to enjoy an affordable meal, or just quietly read a newspaper."

"And pubs are regulated licensed premises. Publicans who permit bad behaviour such as heavy drinking will lose their licences.

3"Supermarkets face no such restraints. They have no idea what happens to cheap alcohol once it leaves their stores. In too many cases, it's passed on to under-age drinkers. It's the supermarkets, not pubs, that encourage binge drinking, with their massively discounted sales of alcohol."

He added: "One solution is for England and Wales to follow the example of the Scottish government and consider a minimum pricing policy for alcohol sold in the off-trade. Urgent action is needed to help save that great British institution - your friendly, neighbourhood local."