BII members in favour of minimum pricing
Members of the BII are in favour of minimum pricing, according to chief executive Neil Roberston.
The BII boss, who took over from John McNamara earlier this year, has also hit out at cheap booze promotions in the off-trade but warned about the costs of implementing minimum pricing.
He said: "BII members are in favour of minimum pricing, in and of itself, as it reduces the differential between the cheap booze we see sold in some off licensed premises and the alcohol sold in the regulated, monitored environment of the pub. We don't support the use of promotions based around cheap drinks in any type of licensed premises and would welcome closer parity in the price of alcohol."
He continued: "It is hoped that the pricing measures announced in Scotland will help reduce the number of street drinkers, whose chaotic behaviour is often blamed on neighbouring on sales premises, and thus reduce the need for the proposed social responsibility fee while at the same time helping to improve the nation's health.
"It is even possible that these measures, fairly applied, could help to attract customers back into pubs."
The comments were made in the wake of Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson recommending a minimum alcohol price of 50p per unit - mirroring The Publican's Make it the Minimumcampaign - and the Scottish Government moving forward with its own minimum price plans.
He said: "We ask that the Scottish Government gives real consideration to the hidden costs of minimum pricing. Implementing this proposal will bring further significant burdens to an already beleaguered licensed retail industry in terms of time and cost. Systems across the sector will have to be updated - just months after they were altered to reflect the cut in VAT.
"At BII we echo the thoughts of many that minimum pricing in itself will not solve the problems associated with alcohol harm. Instead, we believe that education from a young age is a fundamental step towards the cultural change needed. We would be happy to support the Scottish Government but stress we would want to see a balanced approach that recognises the benefits of education.
"Whatever happens - north and south of the border - we want to see this as part of a wider package of measures. We need a comprehensive and far reaching strategy for the future of alcohol harm reduction, not a piecemeal approach. Clarity and consistency will be key."
