Host calls for supermarket licence review

A Scottish licensee has re-applied to have the alcohol licences of two supermarkets reviewed on the grounds that irresponsible drinks promotions are causing a risk to public health.

Jeff Ellis, who owns the Bear Tavern in Newburgh, originally applied to Fife Council to have the licences of Tesco and Morrisons revoked on 8 December.

Scottish licensing law includes a public health objective unlike in England and Wales.

The application was rejected but Ellis has resubmitted a "more focused and sharply-written" version.

It states that both supermarkets have breached the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 by carrying "irresponsible drinks promotions", which are defined in the Act as deals that encourage or seek to encourage a person to buy or consume a larger amount of alcohol than they had intended.

"If we get a hearing, that's a victory because it would mean some people think there is a case to consider and Tesco and Morrisons will have to answer for themselves," said Ellis.

"The ultimate success would be a written warning to Tesco to prevent it from selling alcohol at wholesale price or below."

Promotions​

He was prompted to take action against supermarket alcohol promotions in the run-up to Christmas when Morrisons ran a deal for four x 275ml bottles of Carlsberg for £1 over Christmas.

At the time, the wholesale price for draught Carlsberg to him was £1.50 a pint.

Since buying the pub in 2006, Ellis estimates his annual turnover has been depleted by around 60% and has attributed the bulk of his loss to supermarket pricing.

His campaign has generated support from a number of organisations including the Scottish Licensed Trade Association and Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS), which has provided information for the second application.

"Alcohol Focus Scotland welcomes any review of a premises licence which is failing to protect and improve public health," said an AFS spokesman.

"The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 is being undermined by supermarkets who continue to sell alcohol at ridiculously cheap prices."