WSTA: alcohol-only checkout plan will backfire

Plans to introduce alcohol-only checkouts in supermarkets would backfire, according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

Reports this morning suggest that the Government is considering making supermarkets have a dedicated checkout for alcohol sales, manned by trained staff.

But the WSTA claims data from Morrisons, which operates a dozen stores with separate alcohol checkouts, shows these stores actually sell 4% more alcohol.

"The evidence suggests separate checkouts actually increase sales of alcohol," said WSTA chief executive Jeremy Beadles.

"Why inconvenience ordinary consumers with a policy that isn't going to work anyway.

"Politicians would be better off working with police to enforce the many laws we have that are not yet used rather than creating a walk of shame for millions of ordinary people who are doing nothing wrong."

Richard Taylor, corporate affairs director, for Morrisons, added: "Having separate checkouts for alcohol will not help tackle alcohol misuse. Our own experience in 12 stores where, for historical reasons, we have separate alcohol checkouts is that we actually sell more alcohol not less. The Government should focus on enforcing existing legislation that tackles misuse rather than imposing unnecessary measures on the majority of people who do drink responsibly. "