Beer deals compared to washing-up liquid

A senior pubco figure has hit out at a claim that the way people buy beer from supermarkets, and the rate they consume it, can be compared to washing-up liquid.

Alistair Darby, managing director of Marston's Beer Company, was responding to comments made by the Portman Group's chief executive David Poley at a meeting in Parliament today to discuss the UK's drinking culture.

Asked about the issue of supermarket discounting of alcohol, Mr Poley said: "It's a very tricky issue. The fact is we don't really know what impact that is having on drinking patterns. People may take it home and drink it at their leisure."

He highlighted the example of washing-up liquid, claiming that just because supermarkets offered a two-for-one offer it did not mean people consumed it at faster rate once they bought it. Poley suggested the same argument could be applied to beer.

But later during the meeting, attended by Lords, MPs and on and off-trade figures, Darby hit back at this argument.

"It's very dangerous to compare beer to Fairy liquid because it's significantly more elastic than Fairy liquid," he said. "Generally when it (beer) is in the house it will be consumed at a faster rate.

"My concern is that if there is an encouragement to have three crates of beer in your house then there will be a greater rate of consumption."

Darby also argued that the rise of drinking among young people was due to a "bombardment of doom" from the media, giving them a sense they had less time to enjoy themselves.