Pub 2501 p04 news 21/1/10 12:51 Page 4
4 Monday 25/01/10 thePublican www.thepublican.com
This Week News
‘SLURS AND
News Briefs
Molson Coors
puts 7p on a pint
INNUENDOS’
Brewer Molson Coors has written to
customers outlining plans to increase
prices by around 7p a pint.
The letter, which has been seen by
The Publican, states that the changes
will come into force from March 1.
Watchdog slams accusation of marketing malpractice
It says: “From this date, the prices
of all Molson Coors (UK) own draught
and packaged products will increase
by just under 7 pence per pint.”
By Matt Eley olds” and that Carling is “the first be focused on the positive policy pro- However, the price of a 50-litre
matte@thepublican.com choice for the festival virgin”. posals and public debate on key ways keg of Magners will be frozen at the
Hastings’ team also analysed inter- to reduce alcohol harm such sensa- 2009 level.
ACCUSATIONS THAT alcohol adver- nal marketing documents and again tional assertions are being made.” The letter added: “As always, any
tisers are “pushing the boundaries” raised concerns that brands can In an editorial that runs alongside tax increases made by the Chancellor
by appealing to youngsters have promote social success, masculinity Hastings’ findings, British Medical will be passed on in full as they occur.”
been strongly denied by the industry or femininity – despite this being Journal deputy editor Trish Groves
watchdog. banned under advertising codes. calls for a clampdown on alcohol
The Portman Group and brewer However, Portman Group chief promotion and the introduction of Licensees warned
Molson Coors hit back after the executive David Poley has slammed minimum pricing.
British Medical Journal and an the professor’s “slurs and innuendos”. She writes: “It is time to put away of pub burglars
academic warned that self-regulation He said: “Gerard Hastings trawled the rhetoric, popular with the drinks
for advertising is failing. through thousands of pages of inter- industry, that alcohol misuse is largely Police are warning licensees to be
Professor Gerard Hastings, director nal company marketing documents on an individual problem best avoided alert after a series of burglaries in the
of the Institute of Social Marketing at behalf of the Health Committee. He and managed through education, South Gloucestershire and Bristol area.
Stirling University, analysed docu- failed to find any evidence of malprac- counselling and medical treatment. In the past month, 14 pubs have
ments made available in the recent tice. He therefore resorts to slurs and “Instead the UK needs to embrace been broken into and cash has been
Health Committee inquiry into alcohol innuendos.” the idea that the health and societal stolen from gaming machines.
and raised concerns with his findings. Molson Coors UK chief executive costs of alcohol misuse are best Inspector Kevin Thatcher said: “The
He claimed that brands such as Mark Hunter said: “We think it is a prevented through legislation on thieves have been smashing windows
WKD want to attract “new 18-year- shame that in a week when we should pricing and marketing.” and forcing doors to get into the pubs
and some have been attacked more
than once. I would urge pub staff to
keep an eye out for anyone behaving
suspiciously.”
Pubs awarded
Michelin stars
Three top pubs have been recognised
for their culinary excellence by
gaining Michelin stars in this year’s
edition of the guide.
The Harwood Arms in Fulham,
London, has become the first pub in
the capital to achieve a Michelin star.
Meanwhile, the Royal Oak in Bray-
on-Thames, Berkshire, jointly owned
by Sir Michael Parkinson and his son
Nick, also bagged a star — meaning
the town now has seven Michelin
stars in total.
The Pipe & Glass Inn, South Dalton,
An advert for Carling, which professor Hastings criticised for promoting itself as ‘the first choice for the festival virgin’ East Yorkshire, also picked up a star.
BII VOWS TO WORK WITH HEALTH LOBBY
TRADE GROUP the BII has pledged Part of this will involve sitting on them be more realistic and less evan-
to work more closely with the health the Department of Health’s Coalition gelical about the issue.”
lobby in a bid to change the nature of for Better Health Alcohol Leadership He added the promotion of the Best
the debate around alcohol. Group. Bar None scheme, which rewards
In an interview with The Publican, Robertson said: “Most of the people responsible operators, would play a
chief executive Neil Robertson we speak to in the alcohol lobby tend part in achieving that aim.
explained he wanted to be able to to be more extreme. Star pub: the Royal Oak
promote the pub to opinion-formers. “So we have got to try and help • See News Feature, page 10
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56