Head of Steam boss backs minimum pricing

Head of Steam boss,Tony Brookes, has thrown his weight behind the Make it the Minimum ​campaign and is calling on other pubcos to do the same.

Brookes, who owns five pubs in the North of England, said that raising the price per unit to 50 pence would effectively double the price of supermarket alcohol, a move which is long overdue.

"Selling alcohol as a loss leader is a socially irresponsible thing to do" he said.

"It is totally immoral and should be illegal. If milk or bread were sold as loss leaders that would be fine, but alcohol is effectively a drug.

"Campaigns to tackle supermarket deals on alcohol have been successful so far and have attracted support, but they now need the support of the big pubcos to make a difference - they are the key.

"Smaller companies can do the standing up and shouting but we need those with 8-9,000 pubs to get on-board."

Tony is a vehement campaigner against the availability of cheap alcohol and has already spearheaded the Stuff the Supermarkets campaign, which aims to tackle the supremacy of supermarkets and their "irresponsible deals".

The Head of Steam pub company perates five pubs in the Newcastle, Liverpool and Huddersfield areas.

Meanwhile, licensee Vikki Stevens, who runs the Stone Jug in Clophill, Bedfordshire, has also pledged her support for The Publican's​ campaign.

She said: "Pubs are being made a scapegoat for underage/binge drinking, but in truth, young people could not afford to get inebriated in a pub. They can however afford the prices in the supermarkets.

"Introducing a minimum price of 50p for every unit of alcohol sold is a small step in the right direction."