Pub 2610 p12 news 21/10/09 15:12 Page 12
12 Monday 26/10/09 thePublican www.thepublican.com
This Week News
SHOPS SHRUG
SCOTLAND
TO PRESS ON
OFF THE BLAME
WITH PRICE
PER UNIT
THE SCOTTISH government has hit
back at claims its plans to introduce
Supermarket bosses dismiss impact of cheap deals on pubs
minimum pricing for alcohol could be
scuppered by a new European
Commission (EC) ruling.
By James Wilmore to customers who are already drunk. The EC said earlier this month that
jamesw@thepublican.com The issue of minimum pricing was setting a minimum price on cigarettes
also covered in depth, but all the to reduce consumption was against
THREE OF the UK’s leading super- supermarkets opposed the idea. the law. This led to some suggesting
market chains have rejected the Asda’s Kelly told MPs the measure similar plans for
idea that off-trade alcohol deals are would be a “very blunt tool”. minimum pricing
“destroying the traditional pub”. “It is a stealth tax,” he said. “It on alcohol would
Representatives from Asda, doesn’t find its way into the Treasury also be declared
Sainsbury’s and Waitrose denied the but into the pockets of the drinks illegal.
claim, while giving evidence to the industry. Minimum pricing is not the However,
Health Select committee in Parliament. silver bullet that it has often been the Scottish
Paul Kelly, corporate director at made out to be.” Executive has
Asda, argued pubs’ “cost of doing Kevin Barron MP, chairman of the vowed to carry
business” was a factor in their Customers regard their homes as a much health committee, said he could not on with its plans
decline. safer, more friendly environment to drink in, enter a supermarket in his constit- to introduce a 40p
He added: “Smoking has had a big an Asda spokesman said uency without “tripping over” drinks minimum unit price.
impact, and I think the drift away promotions such as “three for two” A government spokesman
from town centres, and the strength And Giles Fisher, head of alcohol offers. said: “We will rely on our own legal
of Saturday night television has too.” buying at Waitrose, said the downturn But Grant said alcohol deals were advice to progress this policy which
He said the company’s customers affecting pubs was part of a “wider popular with customers and were a we see as fair, proportionate and
regarded their home as “a much safer, consumer trend” and not just about “product of a fiercely competitive necessary to protect public health.
more friendly, more relaxed environ- alcohol. market”. “The EC has already said it has no
ment”. The MP-led inquiry is looking at the in-principle objection to minimum
Nick Grant, head of legal services at impact alcohol is having on health and
www.thepublican.com
pricing for alcohol. Furthermore, the
Sainsbury’s, said pubs were a “very the amount it costs the NHS.
/news
policy has a broad support base
different business model” to super- Sainsbury’s Grant also called for among medical experts, the police and
markets. tighter rules on pubs serving alcohol the pub trade.”
WYE THE BIG WINNER AT BREWING AWARDS
HEREFORDSHIRE-BASED Wye that it was in recognition of the of people has resulted in recogni-
Valley bagged a brace of awards at brewer’s “wide ranging and overall tion”.
the SIBA Brewing Business Awards, commitment to the proactive Other SIBA award winners
winning the overall award and best marketing that must be utilised to included Warwickshire’s Purity
launch title, sponsored by The compliment the brewing of excep- Brewing Company for best use of
Publican and presented by City & tional beer”. electronic media, and Suffolk micro-
Business editor Hamish Champ. Wye Valley chairman Peter Armor brewer Mill Green Brewery – which
Presenting the overall winner said it was “incredibly pleasing and won both the best innovation cate-
award, beer writer and regular satisfying to know that 25 years of gory and best environmental initia- Wye Valley’s John Gardner (left) receives his
Publican columnist Pete Brown said dedication from a wonderful team tive. award from The Publican’s Hamish Champ
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