Figures released by Home Office Minister Lord Taylor of Holbeach in the House of Lords last week revealed that almost all the major supermarkets are selling large volumes of alcohol below cost.
220 million litres of alcohol sold below cost
Commenting on the finding in the latest available figures (for 2008) that 6 out of 7 supermarkets sold alcohol below cost, with a total of over 220 million litres of alcohol sold below cost price, ALMR Strategic Affairs Director, Kate Nicholls said:
“The Government’s admission of the scale of below cost selling and supermarket irresponsibility when it comes to pricing clearly demonstrates the need for swift, tough and effective action not only to tackle pocket money prices but to impose the same regulation of promotional activity in the off-trade as pubs, clubs and bars currently face.”
25% of underage drinkers bought alcohol direct from retail
The problem was further emphasised with the release of the Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Among Young People Survey (published 25 July), which shows that a quarter of underage drinkers bought alcohol from a shop, supermarket or off-licence and almost 40% got it from friends or relatives at home, with the majority of these purchases also likely to be from shops and supermarkets. This compares to 4% of young people who had drunk in on-licensed premises. Responding to the findings, Nicholls said:
Undermining public health and order
“With more than 70% of alcohol now consumed away from the safe, supervised environment of a pub or bar – and the latest research showing two thirds of consumers citing price as the main factor behind that – the time for government action is now. We cannot go on allowing a tide of cheap alcohol to undermine the good work responsible pub and bar operators are doing to deliver the Government’s public health and public order agenda.”