James Wilmore: Smart move Terry, let's just see what your supermarket friends think

So Tesco doesn't seem too bothered about the threat of a ban on below-cost sales?

In fact, its chief executive Terry Leahy​ has even said he supports the coalition government's plan.

It's a smart move by Leahy, staying one step ahead of the game.

Because judging by comments from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), of which Tesco is a member, the rest of the off-trade will have to be dragged kicking and screaming into complying with this law.

Consider this statement from the BRC's director general Stephen Robertson in response to this week's Queen's Speech:

"Below cost selling is simply not the widespread practice portrayed and defining it is a complex issue." ​

And he went on to say:

"If the Government is determined to pursue legislation we would want to ensure it applies sensibly and bears in mind the impact on the vast majority of consumers who buy and drink alcohol responsibly". ​

Note the "if" over whether the government will "pursue legislation". Well it's in a Bill in the Queen's Speech, so it's a fair bet they will pursue it, Stephen.

But there's no doubt the government has got a major job on its hands with this law.

The precise mechanism of how a ban would work is too complex to go into here.

However, I understand the Treasury is already eyeing up how a ban would be implemented. This follows Tory Tobias Ellwood's revelation before the election that the Tories were looking into "the French model" on outlawing below-cost sales.

The trouble is, even pub industry folk, like Kurnia's Michael Kheng, are admitting there will be ways supermarkets can get round a below-cost ban to keep on selling cheap booze.

Kheng agrees with the health lobby, that setting a minimum price is the best way forward.

But this approach divides people - even in the pub industry.

Plenty of operators are for it, but notably the British Beer & Pub Association, and some of its high profile members, are reluctant to let the government start interfering on price.

I guess the collective positive pubs can take from the below-cost debate is an increased focus on some of the ridiculously cheap deals currently being offered by major supermarkets.

When the Bill hits Parliament, sometime in the next 18 months, I'm sure they'll be backbench MPs queuing up to tear a strip off the supermarkets for their irresponsible pricing policies.

It's the debate every frustrated licensee wants - so bring it on!