Tesco chief urges pubs to help tackle alcohol problems

Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy says the company backs government plans to ban below-cost selling of alcohol - and will also "support" talks around minimum pricing.

However, writing in the Daily Telegraph​, Leahy warned that "price alone is unlikely to be enough to change the drinking culture in the UK".

He also urged other retailers - including pubs - to work with the company to tackle the problems around alcohol.

His comments come after the coalition government yesterday confirmed that it planned to ban below-cost sales of alcohol.

"We welcome the new government's commitment to act on below-cost selling of alcohol and today I pledge that we will support Government-led action to make this happen across the UK.

"We will also support any future discussions on a minimum price for alcohol," he stated.

Leahy said that research by Tesco among its customers found nearly 70 per cent thought excessive drinking was one of the most "serious issues" facing the country - and 61 per cent were worried about anti-social behaviour.

But he warned the government must take the lead on the issue.

"We don't know the level at which price encourages problem drinking, so any pricing controls will have to be carefully debated to make sure they are effective and proportionate," he wrote.

"Otherwise the vast majority of consumers who drink responsibly could end up paying higher prices for no good reason."

The supermarket giant has also committed to other initiatives such as funding training for independent retailers to address the issue of sales to under-18s.

But Leahy concluded: "None of these ideas is a silver bullet.

"But I hope they represent a start and that politicians, as well as pubs, clubs, off-licences, drinks manufacturers and other retailers, will work with us in tackling this problem."

Leahy was previously branded the "Godfather of binge-drinking" by former Labour MP John Grogan.