Pubs aim to highlight 'irresponsible' deals

A Lincolnshire-based pub group has launched a Facebook group to keep an eye on the cheap and "irresponsible" deals available in the supermarkets.

Michael Kheng of Kurnia Leisure said the aim was to make people aware of the damage the mass of cheap offers is causing pubs.

"Fed up with the supermarkets continually selling alcohol irresponsibly as a loss leader, I have set up this group to catalogue irresponsible offers," he said.

"It may also be a central point for pub landlords to know where to get the best deals — so long as you are free of tie.

"If you know of any irresponsible promotions please let us know."

Kheng said that supermarkets were irresponsible because:

• The cheap alcohol is consumed in unsupervised areas

• The cheap alcohol can easily be consumed by under 18's

• Pre-loading is being promoted which leads to more trouble in our town and city centres

• More pubs are put out of business (many because they are tied and are buying at 2 or 3 times the price in the supermarket)

• The general public do not realise that the supermarkets are making a loss and therefore think pubs are vastly overcharging

• The price per alcohol unit that is being suggested everywhere is 40p per alcohol unit, the supermarkets are selling at lot lower than this

He added: "The Government needs to wake up and start looking at the price of alcohol in supermarkets and start looking at them rather than continually targeting the pub trade."

One of the cheapest deals listed so far is 15 x 330ml cans of 5% Carlsberg Export in Asda — the equivalent of 57p a pint and 20p an alcoholic unit.

• Join the Make People Aware of the Irresponsible Drinks Promotions in Supermarkets​ group​.