Supermarkets: fewer deals on alcohol
Supermarkets and shops are running fewer cut-price drinks deals this month than at the same time last year.
The number of deals have been slashed by 15%, and alcohol prices upped by 4% overall, according to surprising figures from Morning Advertiser's sister title The Grocer.
It was revealed that alcohol deals have fallen to 22% of all supermarket promotions this month, in comparison to 26% in January 2009.
The trend was most marked at Asda, where drink promotions fell from 27% of featured space to 13%.
The promotions space has been filled with deals on fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy, the survey says.
Separate research commissioned by The Grocer revealed that drinks prices were not lowered towards the end of 2009.
Although marketing was heavy throughout the run up to Christmas, Brand View research found that, on average, alcohol sold for 2% to 5% more in the festive period than the previous year.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said in his speech on alcohol this week that measures need to be taken to stop "irresponsible corner shops" selling alcohol to children.
The Association of Convenience Stores hit back at Johnson for his "lazy stereotyping".
An unnamed supplier told The Grocer that Conservative plans to triple tax on alcopops and double tax on cider seemed "out of date".
"If you look at what underage kids are drinking, they have shifted into spirits or large quantities of mainstream lager. I'm not sure the superstrength cider, beer or alcopops are fashionable to young people. It's just posturing politics."
