FLVA criticises Portman Group over cheap booze
Pub trade leader Tony Payne has criticised the Portman Group for appearing to defend supermarkets for selling alcohol cheaply.
It came as Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA) chief executive Payne praised a retiring police chief's attack on cheap supermarket alcohol.
Talking to the BBC, Nottinghamshire chief constable Steve Green — previously an outspoken critic of pubs and clubs — called for alcohol to be moved behind the counter and for "alcopops" to be banned.
He urged Government to act against supermarkets, where alcohol is "stacked high and sold as cheap as water".
Payne said: "We've got to support the police chief.
"The supermarkets are just putting two fingers up to everybody and making hay while the sun shines."
In reply, Portman said there were greater priorities than increasing the price of alcohol.
"We need to change the drinking culture by making drunkenness socially unacceptable. Proper enforcement of alcohol laws by police, better education and a crackdown on the minority of rogue traders who serve alcohol to children should be our priorities," said head of communications Michael Thompson.
The FLVA's Payne said Portman "can't talk for the industry".
"They are not on the shop floor and the licensees know how badly they are being affected."
The Daily Mail reported on Monday that supermarkets were selling beer for as little as 30p per pint.
Portman response
"We have never claimed to talk on behalf of the whole industry. We represent the major drinks producers on social responsibility.
"I understand how frustrating it must be for pubs when they are being driven out of business by supermarkets. But our view remains that changing the culture through proper police enforcement of alcohol laws, better education and tackling a minority of rogue retailers should be priorities.
"We are not convinced that price is the major determinant in harmful drinking. On the Continent, where alcohol is far cheaper, they don't have the same health and social problems associated with alcohol.
"The UK Government has commissioned an independent review of the link between price, promotions and harm, which is due to report in the autumn. If this does find evidence of a definite link, however, we'd want to be involved in discussions about what could and should be done."
