WSTA warns that minimum pricing will encourage crime and harm consumers and businesses

In its submission to the Government’s consultation on the Alcohol Strategy, the WSTA accused the Government of failing to make a realistic assessment of the wider impacts of increasing the cost of alcohol on the economy and crime rates.

The trade body has raised concerns that proposals for a minimum unit price of alcohol will lead to an increase in bootleg alcohol sales, fake alcohol production, theft and cross-border sales.

It said that as the cost of alcohol rises, consumers will look for cheaper options, which is likely to bolster the bootlegging of alcohol and the ‘White Van Trade’, including the increased production of self-brewed alcohol for sale and fake alcohol products.

The WSTA has also raised concerns about the impact increased alcohol prices could have on retail theft.

It argued that pushing up the price of alcohol will increase its attractiveness to thieves and cost businesses even more in the long run .

Miles Beale, chief executive of the WSTA, said: “There is a real risk that this illegal activity will increase if alcohol prices are forced up even more.

“Consumers in the UK already pay some of the highest prices in Europe for alcohol and further price rises could result in some serious unintended consequences that the Government has failed to consider.

“The Government's plans to set higher alcohol prices could increase illicit, unregulated sales of alcohol which will risk harming consumers and depriving the Treasury of revenue.

“It will also have a massive detrimental effect on the UK economy, making British businesses more vulnerable as they lose out to cheaper, and sometimes illegal, sources.”