CAMRA U-turn over minimum unit alcohol pricing

During the event in Norwich approval was given to a motion that stated CAMRA was on the “wrong side” of the argument over mini-mum pricing, and it in-structed the National Executive to withdraw support for the measure.

CAMRA member Peter Alexander stated in his motion that he considered the phrase “responsible drinking” to mean that the drinker was responsible both for the quantity consumed and his or her behaviour. So responsibility rests with the person, not the product.  

“CAMRA’s support for minimum pricing is based on the mistaken view that raising supermarket prices will encourage more people to go to the pub. But pub-going has declined, not because of the cheapness of supermarkets, but because of the massive increases in pub prices in recent years caused by the beer duty escalator and pub company greed,” said Alexander.

“Higher supermarket prices will not reduce pub prices; they will just make home drinking dearer, and to assume that will benefit pubs is wishful thinking.”

The motion was passed by 276 votes to 201 against.

CAMRA has been a staunch supporter of minimum pricing, arguing it was a way to reduce the gap between supermarket and pub prices.
Head of public affairs at CAMRA, Jonathan Mail, told the Publican’s Morning Advertiser: “We’re in the pro-ess of formulating a new position on below-cost alcohol sales.”