Senior figures in the pub trade have given a mixed reaction to yesterday’s report from the Parliamentary Health Committee that supports minimum pricing and calls on the industry to do more to act responsibly.
The Health Committee said it does not believe that participation in the Responsibility Deal, which involves a series of pledges such as providing more alcohol unit information and reducing the strength of drinks, should be optional. It backed minimum pricing but called for a greater evidence base ahead of its implementation and a sunset clause on the measure. The report also favoured tougher restrictions on drinks advertising.
It was in response to the Government’s Alcohol Strategy, released earlier this year.
Greene King chief executive Rooney Anand welcomed the MPs’ suggestions.
“We have supported, and advocated for, a wide ranging and serious discussion into the effects of alcohol consumption on British society, and we welcome this report from the Health Committee. We particularly welcome the committee’s support for minimum unit pricing for alcohol, an important policy initiative in the fight against irresponsible retailing and consumption of alcohol.
“We believe that 50p per unit will go some way to addressing alcohol misuse problems, without unfairly prejudicing responsible drinkers. We would like to see the level of 50p per unit set for a significant period of time, in order that a proper impact assessment can be made and absolutely agree with the Health Committee that this should be monitored, refined, and reworked if necessary to ensure it remains effective.
“In addition to minimum pricing, we also support the reports’ recommendations for a clearer set of objectives and measures that all stakeholders can work towards and welcome a review of alcohol guidelines, in particular we would support further work to make the understanding of alcohol units clearer to consumers.”
British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “In broad terms, this is a balanced report. The Committee is right to stress the importance of evidence based policy making, and the Government should garner more evidence before proceeding with a minimum pricing policy and a proposed ban on multi-buys.”
However, the BBPA said it was “disappointed” that the Committee has “prejudged the impact of the removal of 1bn alcohol units from the market by 2015” under the Responsibility Deal.
“There are some issues on which we differ from the committee, but there is a mutual recognition of the need for partnership between Government, producers and retailers – and with local authorities and the police at the local level.”
Kate Nicholls, strategic affairs director at the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, said: “We are pleased that politicians of all parties have now finally woken up to the fact that it is the plethora of pocket money priced alcohol promotions which are the real problem. With 70% of alcohol now bought and consumed at home, and widespread loss leading, punitive measures against pubs and bars are not delivering either Government’s public policy objectives on health and crime and disorder.
“We are disappointed, therefore, that the Committee has not taken the opportunity to press for a wider balanced package of measures to tackle unregulated supermarket sales.
“We are pleased that the Committee has recommended a sunset clause [on minimum pricing], but do not agree with their suggestion that the setting of a price should be regularly reviewed – this must be a floor below which prices cannot fall, not something which is subject to automatic indexation, if it is to tackle the irresponsible minority, not the responsible majority.”
