A proposed government ban on supermarket alcohol promotions has met with a mixed response among retailers.
Today, as part of the Queen’s Speech, the government said it will consult on promotions such as multi-pack discounts.
British Retail Consortium (BRC) director general Stephen Robertson said it is wrong to penalise shoppers who drink without getting into trouble.
He argued already hard-hit consumers should not have to pay more for alcohol.
Robertson said: “Denying hard-pressed customers access to value is wrong. We don’t want social disorder either but controls on price and promotions will not tackle alcohol abuse.
“They just penalise millions of customers who drink perfectly responsibly.”
Businesses could be forced to pay higher taxes under the Business Rate Supplementary Bill, the BRC also argued today.
While agreeing that it would be wrong for people to pay more for alcohol as part of their weekly shop, the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) welcomed the government’s commitment to dealing with “irresponsible” drinks deals.
It said that “action to tackle alcohol misuse should be focused on the minority of irresponsible premises and promotions”.
But the WSTA also said it has concerns about the planned legislation as a whole.
Chief executive Jeremy Beadles commented: “We will work with government to ensure that a retail code tackles the minority of irresponsible premises and doesn’t just create new layers of bureaucracy and red-tape for the majority of responsible businesses, local authorities and our over-stretched police forces.”
A report carried out by Addaction found that some supermarket promotions mean alcohol is cheaper than water.
