Managed operator Barracuda has had a foretaste of tough new promotions proposals in Scotland at its pub, the Malt Cross in Ayr.
South Ayrshire Licensing Board has been a trailblazer for the act, the Licensing (Scotland) Act, which come into force on 1 September, introducing its code well in advance. Barracuda's pub in Ayr fell foul of the Ayrshire code by offering a bottle of Corona beer at a discounted price of £1.50, on production of a voucher, and bottle of wine for £4.95, available with any main meal purchased.
Licensing standards officer Catrina Andrew said: "The beer offer is not acceptable under the code as it applies to one drink, and the second would be at a higher price. And a customer who did not have a voucher would also pay a higher price."
She added: "That breaches point six on the code which states, 'licensees must ensure
that prices for alcoholic liquor remain constant from opening until close of business each day'."
She said the wine offer also breached point six, adding: "It also may encourage one person to consume a bottle of wine themselves. Indeed, a couple having a meal could have a bottle of wine each.
"This breaches point seven, encouraging 'doubling up' or 'upselling' where customers are encouraged to drink more for a cheaper unit price."
The Malt Cross reduced the price of Corona to £1.50 for every purchase and withdrew the wine offer.
Baracuda's legal repreentative Peter Lawson told a licensing hearing that Barracuda would exclude Ayr from all its promotions and the pub operator recognised it would have to exclude Scotland from promotioms as a whole when the new Licensing (Scotland) Act comes in on 1 September.