Alcohol promos crackdown 'won't hit pubs'

The Government has this afternoon released more details of its plan under the long-awaited Alcohol Strategy, which is set to consult on introducing a 40p minimum price this summer.

An initial press statement said the Strategy would consult on banning multi-buy promotions like “buy one, get one free”. The new Strategy document clarifies that the on-trade won’t be included.

It said: “We will consult on a ban on multi-buy promotions in the off-trade meaning that multiple bottles or cans could not be sold cheaper than the multiple of one bottle or can.

“This would put an end to any alcohol promotion or sale that offers customers a discount for buying multiple products in stores and therefore those that encourage and incentivise customers to buy larger quantities than they want.”

It adds: “We do not currently intend to apply this ban to the on-trade as this is already a more controlled and regulated drinking environment.”

However, the on-trade could face restrictions in the future. The Strategy promises to review the Mandatory Code on drinks promotions, which came into force in 2010, “to ensure they are sufficiently targeting problems such as irresponsible promotions in pubs and clubs”.
Meanwhile, the Government is to drop is much-criticised plan to ban sales of alcohol below VAT and duty.

Perhaps more concerning for the trade, the Strategy says the Government would “work with the police to tackle the issue of serving alcohol to drunks including exploring how greater use can be made of existing powers and how test purchasing can support this”.

It raises the prospect fresh test purchase operations involving sales to people who are or appear to be drunk. These were used widely at the end of the last decade thanks to central funding from the Government, but their popularity among authorities waned after funding was cut in the economic downturn.

The Government has also called for better training for bar staff so they avoid sales to people who are drunk.

Elsewhere, the Strategy says it expects to see progress on a variety of industry initiatives, such as a “major extension” of schemes such as Best Bar None, Community Alcohol Partnerships, Business Improvement Districts and Purple Flag.

It also calls for a long term commitment, through to 2020, to funding for alcohol awareness charity Drinkaware.

And it urges the industry to increase awareness of its social responsibility codes on responsible marketing of alcohol, as well as more work by drinks producers to ensure under-18s don’t access their websites.

Another novel proposal is giving medical staff powers to issue penalty notices to people who act aggressive while drunk.