Scots want level playing field in booze crackdown
A Scottish trade group has called for a "level playing field" on drinks promotions between pubs and shops as the Scottish Parliament plans further action on alcohol.
The Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA) warned of the "unintended consequences" of the new Alcohol Bill, which wants minimum pricing of alcohol to curb cheap supermarket deals, among other hard-line policies.
SBPA chief executive Patrick Browne said: "We are calling for politicians whatever else they do to level the current unlevel playing field between pubs and supermarkets on the issue of drinks promotions in Scotland.
"It is fundamentally flawed for pubs to have been banned from running promotions like buy one get one free offers since 1 September 2009, but for supermarkets to be allowed to continue to do exactly that at a fraction of the prices that any pub could ever charge.
"That unlevel playing field makes a total mockery of the current Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 and raises real questions about the commitment of politicians to tackle 'irresponsible promotions.'"
Despite its support for a crackdown on off-trade drinks promotions, the SBPA questioned the Scottish Government's ability to implement minimum pricing under its devolved powers, seeing as it has no powers in relation to duty and taxation.
"Even if this is an option, we would highlight that there may be significant adverse consequences for the competitiveness of the Scottish pub and hospitality industries of having differential governmental policies on the fundamental issue of product pricing between Scotland and the rest of the UK.
"We do not believe this would be to the benefit of the industry or our customers."
In its submission to the Bill's consultation, the SBPA also questioned the need to introduce age verification policies in Scotland.
It highlighted the possible impact of bans on under 21 year-olds being able to buy alcohol from off sales - given that many pubs are licensed to make off sales where the alcohol is then consumed in beer gardens.
Browne said: "It would appear that many aspects of the Alcohol Bill will have unintended consequences for pubs that are licensed to make off sales of alcohol. Hopefully the Scottish Parliament will remove those anomalies."
