ALMR: alcohol report is welcome boost for pubs
The Health Select Committee Report on alcohol is a welcome boost for community pubs in their fight against cheap supermarket alcohol, according to one trade body.
The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) welcomed the report, which recommended introducing a minimum price (MPs: it's war on cheap supermarket alcohol), but said a ban on below cost selling would be a more effective measure.
It urged the Government to promote pubs as part of the solution rather than the problem.
The ALMR recently revealed Government published statistics, which showed that people drinking at home routinely pour double what they get in a pub in terms of wine and spirits.
"Unfettered and deregulated access to bargain booze sold at pocket money prices through supermarkets and corner shops is undoubtedly fuelling consumption," said ALMR chief executive Nick Bish.
"Pubs and bars themselves now face paying 44% more for Carlsberg or Grolsch than their customers can buy it at Sainsbury or Tesco — that cannot be right.
"We have been urging politicians to take action on below cost selling since it was first identified by the Competition Commission in 2008 and we believe a ban on the practice would be a sensible and proportionate response."
Bish also welcomed proposals to limit the number of off-licences and restrict sales to a single aisle.
"The licensing regime for the off-trade is undoubtedly too lax. The 2003 Licensing Act swept away all restrictions on the time at which alcohol may be sold and its location in the store," he said.
"As a result shoppers literally fall over displays of very cheap alcohol and drinking at home has replaced drinking in a well-regulated licensed environment. It is time the supermarket and not the pub took the rap".
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), which gave evidence to the Committee, also welcomed the news.
"CAMRA welcomes the call by the Committee for the introduction of a minimum price per alcohol unit which will benefit community pubs by curbing the below cost selling of alcohol by supermarkets which can fuel pre-loading," said national spokesperson Iain Loe.
