Minimum pricing is an easy distraction

There is great feeling within the on-trade about the ability of the big supermarkets to sell alcohol at whatever price they wish, including below cost.

While the balance of the argument might have tipped ever so slightly towards a recognition that all of the problems in society — and particularly those that are alcohol related — do not emanate from within the pub sector, we still suffer from various negative associations that usually include the words "binge drinking" or "alcohol abuse". So there is perhaps a temptation for us to hitch our wagon to the stampede of minimum-pricing initiatives.

I believe we should be very careful. Part of any impulse is the feeling that we are an easy target and that if the supermarkets were prevented from selling alcohol cheaply all the ills of our sector — in one bound — would be gone.

If some form of minimum pricing were to come about, somehow the supermarkets would find a clever way around it — they always do. And pricing is, I feel, an easy distraction for us.

After all, we are in the hospitality industry. If we give customers what they want, improve and innovate and make our service the very best, then pricing will be less of an issue across the board, I feel.

Sometimes maybe we should let some of the big political issues pass us by. If Government wants to move in a certain direction, we can waste so much time and energy trying to second guess it.

On no issue can I recall us winning our corner — and at the same time I see no objections or controls being placed on the supermarkets.

Let's not get mad, but get even. Time spent in a wonderful British pub still beats most other forms of entertainment — and, given the value it offers, knocks all of them into a cocked hat.

Now is the time to welcome even more heartily our depressed and stressed customers. Staying at home and drinking cheap booze while watching all the bad news on the TV is no way to pass the time.

Great autumnal ales never tasted better, and, what's more, their sales are in rude health.