Top cop attacks supermarket alcohol prices

The UK's leading licensing police officer has today hit out at what he called 'pocket money prices' being charged by supermarkets for alcohol.

Chief constable Jon Stoddart, of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), told the National Pub Watch conference in Liverpool that he was keen for the government to introduce a minimum price for alcohol.

He said: "The minimum cost price introduced by the government is a step in the right direction, but it is unfair that they [supermarkets] can sell alcohol for 22p per unit. They are selling beer at pocket money prices.

"It is unacceptable in terms of safety, public health and in terms of the message it sends out," he added.

Stoddart went on to say he was broadly in favour of a range of measures currently being pushed through Parliament by the government regarding changes to the licensing laws.

He said he backed the late-night levy on venues that stay open after midnight.

"This is a way forward," he said. "It is about helping people account for their impact on society.

"I don't want more pubs closing, rather I want the right pubs closing, those that are run badly or that are disorderly."

Meanwhile, Zoe Wilkinson, the Home Office's head of alcohol policy development, said the late-night levy would apply equally to both the on and off trades.

"The government is aware that the majority of licensed premises are well-run establishments, but it is concerned that existing legislation doesn't go far enough to deal with the minority who flout the regulations," she added.

The Publican​ is calling for a 50p per unit minimum price for alcohol as part of its 'Make It The Minimum' campaign.