BII north east backs minimum pricing push

The BII's north eastern division has joined up with a regional health body to campaign for minimum pricing.

The campaign is spearheaded by Balance, the North East Alcohol Office, which is part-funded by the Government.

As part of Balance's "I have a drink problem" campaign, which calls for minimum pricing, the group has released a survey of 100 licensees showing 90% support the measure to tackle cheap supermarket alcohol.

The survey also found:

• 94% say supermarket drinks promotions have adversely affected their trade

• 58% say that over recent years customers have begun to drink at home before coming out later

• 41% say the profitability has decreased substantially.

Richard Slade, chairman of the BII's north eastern division, said: "We can't and won't compete with the prices being offered by supermarkets.

"Hundreds of pubs have closed in the north east recently and we feel that the widespread availability of cheap alcohol at supermarkets is a major factor."

Slade highlighted the problem of "pre-loading" and added: "Bar staff are being asked to serve people who arrive already drunk and who get aggressive or abusive when they get knocked back.

"We know from our colleagues who drive taxis that these people are coming straight from their homes, where they've consumed large amounts of alcohol. Its damaging the BII's efforts to encourage responsible drinking."

"As licensees we have to be responsible when it comes to serving people. If people are causing trouble immediately after misusing alcohol in our establishments, those problems can be traced directly to us and we stand to lose our licences.

"With the supermarkets — there's no such accountability. People buy the booze and drink it at home before coming into our pubs to cause bother.

"We really have had enough. It's time to tackle the problems caused by cheap alcohol — it's time to introduce a minimum price per unit of alcohol, which will enable us to compete and end this culture of pre-loading."

Among the groups that fund Balance are the police, primary care trusts, the Department of Health and the Home Office — which is pursuing the policy of banning below-cost alcohol sales as an alternative to minimum pricing.

Dave Hogg, crime and disorder programmes manager at Balance, said: "We want communities where alcohol plays a role in bringing people together, not isolating them and creating problems for the frontline staff, whether they be nurses, police officers, bar staff or taxi drivers."

Visit www.balancenortheast.co.uk​ for more details on the campaign, including how to register your support.