Alcohol strategy doesn't target "hidden binge drinkers"

By Adam Pescod

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Alcohol misuse Alcoholic beverage

'Alcohol strategy must not penalise responsible drinkers,' says Henry Ashworth
'Alcohol strategy must not penalise responsible drinkers,' says Henry Ashworth
Alcohol awareness groups have given a lukewarm response to the Government’s Alcohol Strategy, published today, which proposes a minimum unit price for alcohol of 40p per unit.

David Cameron said the Government must “tackle the scourge of violence caused by binge-drinking” and will consult on the minimum price during the summer with a view to implementing it “as soon as possible”.

However, alcohol awareness charity Drinkaware is concerned that the strategy does not sufficiently target “hidden binge drinkers”, whilst others are worried it may penalise those who drink responsibly.

Drinkaware chief executive Chris Sorek said: “As a charity dedicated to changing the UK’s drinking culture, we fully support measures to help reduce alcohol misuse in the UK.

"While price is one of many factors that influence drinking, at the source of behaviour change is tackling people’s attitudes. We work with the Government, public health community and drinks industry on our ‘Why let good times go bad campaign?’ to do this.

“We are concerned however that while young adults sprawled on pavements after a night out on the town grabs headlines, the strategy does not include measures to tackle the worrying trend of Britain’s hidden binge drinkers. Recent ONS statistics confirm Drinkaware’s evidence that 25-44 year old working professionals are drinking more heavily and more regularly than young adults.

“Although it can be easy to find excuses to drink after a long day, many people are unaware they are putting themselves at risk by drinking more than they think.  Regularly going over the unit guidelines has serious implications for your health, from disturbed sleep and weight gain to cancer, heart and liver disease – which has no warning signs.

“We are pleased to see that addressing binge drinking is high on the political agenda. However we would like to see more emphasis on tackling the habitual drinking behaviour of UK adults which, if not addressed, will have serious implication for the health of the nation.”

Portman Group chief executive Henry Ashworth added: “For this strategy to be successful, it must not penalise the vast majority who drink responsibly or unfairly burden businesses that are helping Government tackle alcohol misuse through the responsibility deal partnership – it is vital that these proposals do not undermine this partnership and the good progress that is being made.”

Other industry reaction:

Nick Bish, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR)​:

"We are pleased that the Government has finally woken up to the fact that it is the plethora of pocket money priced alcohol and unregulated supermarket sales which are the real problem. With 70% of alcohol now bought and consumed at home, punitive measures against pubs and bars will not deliver the Government’s public policy objectives on health and crime and disorder.

"We welcome this move that starts to address the price differential between pubs and supermarkets, and we still need action to encourage customers to drink in the supervised, responsible environment of the pub.
 
“The aim must be to see alcohol sold and consumed responsibly. This is about individual behaviour too, but we are certainly playing our part in making the alcohol policy work properly.”

Keith Bott, chairman of the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA):

“SIBA was the first industry body to cautiously welcome the idea of minimum pricing when it was introduced. We therefore welcome today’s announcement -  so long as the policy is implemented in a way that genuinely helps to close the gap between beer prices in the off- and on-trade, and encourages people back into the pub.

“We, along with other industry bodies, have for years been promoting the pub as the home of responsible drinking and draught beer as a lower-alcohol drink, to be enjoyed as part of a social interaction rather than as an end in itself.  Beer drinking in pubs stands in marked contrast to the consumption of higher alcohol drinks in unsupervised environments and we are pleased that the Government is finally recognising this distinction.

“We await further details of the minimum pricing policy and trust that as it is developed, our industry is able to keep control, so that it is not captured by the temperance movement, nor used as a cash cow.”

JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin:
 
"The Government's plans for minimum pricing for alcohol are dealing with the symptoms and not the underlying problem.  The reason supermarkets can sell alcoholic drinks so cheaply is that they pay no VAT on food and pubs pay 20%.  Supermarkets can therefore cross-subsidise drink sales.

"Having increased excise duties on Wednesday, punishing pubs yet again, the Government is also introducing a 'late night levy' creating an extra tax and more bureaucracy for pubs, which will result in even more pub closures, especially in less wealthy areas of the country.
"Pubs outside London and the South East especially are becoming ever less competitive with supermarkets and can’t cope with the current tax regime, let alone further burdens, and this is bad for communities and for high streets."

Mark Hunter, chief executive of Molson Coors:

"We want to work with the Government to tackle alcohol misuse. We believe that extremely low prices – those sold below cost - do not build respect for our brands or alcohol.

"We welcome the opportunity to be consulted on the detail and potential consequences of a minimum price that should address problem prices without affecting the rights of responsible drinkers or damaging responsible business.

"We believe that Alcohol Responsibility is a UK-wide question and we have always favoured UK-wide solutions – the plans today are a step in that direction.”

Nigel Wright, chief operating officer of managed pub group TCG:

 “Well managed pubs and bars are the safest, most enjoyable and social places to enjoy a sensible drink. However, every town centre pub and bar operator has to deal with pre-loading. Groups of customers arrive at our venues after drinking alcohol at home. 
“If minimum pricing genuinely helps to level the playing field between the off-trade and the on-trade, it will not only help keep pubs and bars competitive, but should also have social benefits in tackling the problems associated with excessive consumption of cheap, supermarket-bought alcohol.”   

Henry Chevallier, chair of the National Association of Cider Makers (NACM):

“The cider industry is extremely disappointed with the Government’s new legislative approach. There has been no consultation despite the great impact this legislation could have on our industry, which contributes significantly to the local, rural economies where our members are based.  

“The NACM recognises that we must find a solution to alcohol misuse, but Minimum Unit Pricing is not a silver bullet, therefore a commitment to implement it without debate is not how we expect Government to operate.  

“We are pleased to see that other aspects of planned changes will be discussed more broadly and we will be responding positively to Government recommendations for further joint-industry cooperation, working towards resolving the big issues surrounding alcohol misuse.  

“We continue to support the Responsibility Deal and believe that the Unit Reduction Pledge announced today is a positive step forward.”     

British Retail Consortium (BRC) food director, Andrew Opie:

“David Cameron is seriously misguided. It’s simplistic to imagine a minimum price is some sort of silver bullet solution to irresponsible drinking.

“Irresponsible drinking has cultural causes and retailers have been hugely engaged in information and education to change attitudes to drinking because that is what is working.  

“It’s a myth to suggest that supermarkets are the problem or that a pub is somehow a safer drinking environment. It’s retailers not pubs that have led the way on preventing underage sales, providing unit labelling and funding the Drinkaware campaign. And retailers are active, founding participants in the Government’s own Health Responsibly Deal. 

“Government figures show overall alcohol consumption falling and that three quarters of men and over four fifths of women drink within official guidelines.

“People who buy alcohol in supermarkets buy it with a range of other items as part of their regular shop and take it home to drink over a period or share. Effectively, a minimum price is a tax on responsible drinkers.”

A spokesman for HEINEKEN UK:
 
“We share the Prime Minister’s desire to tackle alcohol misuse. However, we don’t believe that a policy of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) will be successful in deterring those who misuse alcohol. Furthermore, it is a blanket measure likely to impact on moderate consumers and particularly the poorest.

"We note, with disappointment, that the proposed consultation on MUP is limited to the actual price, rather than the principles of such a policy, whether it will be successful or indeed what alternatives could be considered.
 
"We actively support the Government’s Responsibility Deal on alcohol and believe that there are actions we are already taking, that are having a positive impact. For HEINEKEN, this means providing good quality consumer information on bottles, cans and glasses; developing lower abv drinks; discontinuing the ultra cheap high strength drinks most likely to be misused; working with specialist groups such as Addaction, Best Bar None and CAP; and using our sponsorships & other advertising channels to help make responsible consumption a desirable state.
 
"HEINEKEN has a global reputation for promoting responsible consumption and we will continue to find new/innovative ways to do this – working with all interested stakeholders. We are therefore very disappointed that the Government has announced its proposals without any consultation with those businesses, such as HEINEKEN, who are committed to finding long term, workable solutions to alcohol misuse.”

Wine and Spirits Trade Association interim chief executive Gavin Partington:
"We welcome the Government's recognition of the industry's positive contribution through the Public Health Responsibility Deal to encourage responsible drinking. We oppose minimum unit pricing and the proposed restrictions to promotions which will adversely affect millions of consumers and businesses in the UK, while doing nothing to tackle the root causes of alcohol misuse."

Colin Neill, chief executive of Pubs of Ulster:
 
“We fully welcome and support the plans to introduce a minimum price per unit of alcohol in England and Wales and are greatly encouraged that decisive steps are now being taken across the UK to address the issue of alcohol misuse and abuse.
 
“Pubs of Ulster has been at the forefront of calls for minimum pricing for a number of years and has been working closely with Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland and Health Minister Edwin Poots to develop a model that is most appropriate for Northern Ireland.  As a result, Northern Ireland is now leading the rest of the UK and Ireland on the issue.  In addition, Northern Ireland is also leading the way on banning irresponsible drinks promotions through the current live consultation and Pubs of Ulster’s industry code of practice.
 
“Recent tragic events in Northern Ireland have highlighted the immediate need for a responsible approach to the sale and consumption of alcohol and whilst we are making progress, more still needs to be done.  We hope that this latest development in England and Wales will help drive things forward in Northern Ireland and see minimum pricing introduced in the very near future.”

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