Welsh landlords back 50p minimum price per unit on alcohol

This comes as the Government is proposing a minimum price of 40p per unit, while in Scotland 45p per unit is being debated.

A minimum price of 50p would mean that a 750ml bottle of wine (12% ABV) could not be sold for less than £4.50, a can of beer at 5% ABV could not be sold for less than £1.25, and a bottle of vodka at 40% ABV could not be sold for less than £14.

Nearly half (48%) of the 600 respondents said their sales of alcohol had dropped during the past year, and 61% of these expected them to continue to decline over the next 12 months.

Most blamed cheap deals at supermarkets — 94% said cheap alcohol sold in supermarkets was responsible for stagnant or declining alcohol sales at their premises, and 56% cited it as the main reason.

Prices of alcohol products are so low in the supermarkets that 22% of publicans said they sometimes bought their stock from there instead of the cash and carry. Nearly a third (32%) of freeholders said they had sourced their alcohol in this way.

The survey was undertaken in February and March, prior to the announcement that a minimum unit price for alcohol will be introduced in England and Wales.

Mark Leyshon, a spokesman for Alcohol Concern Cymru, said: “Licensees are telling us it’s unfair that they are blamed for many of the alcohol-related problems in society, while supermarkets continue to sell heavily discounted alcohol.

"There are many well-run pubs in Wales providing a safe and sociable place to drink alcohol, but licensees feel they are being driven out of business by irresponsible pricing of alcoholic drinks in the off-trade.

“It’s clear that a minimum price of 50p per alcohol unit would be of enormous help to pubs, but it would also have a positive impact on binge drinking and reducing alcohol-related harm.”