Capital set for ban on cheap booze

Published on Tuesday 18 August 2009 09:40

CITY licensing chiefs sparked anger today amid claims they are set to make Edinburgh the first place in the UK to outlaw cheap alcohol promotions at shops and supermarkets.

The move would mean a ban on "buy one, get one free" or "three for two" deals at off-licences in the Capital.

Retail bosses have branded the use of licensing laws aimed at pubs and nightclubs to crackdown on in-store special offers as "wrong and unfair".

City council chiefs said they had not made a decision, but added that parts of the new licensing laws coming into effect next month "apply to both on and off sales trade".

The legislation places conditions on bars, pubs and nightclubs to curb promotions and happy hours, but controls on off-sales promotions are due to be considered as part of a new Alcohol Bill proposed by the Scottish Government. Critics have called Edinburgh's interpretation of the new regulations as "making up law on the hoof" using powers intended to stop pubs and clubs giving away free drinks.

John Drummond, chief executive of the Scottish Grocers Federation, said: "Retailers are at the mercy of licensing boards as they wait for personal and premises licences and must not be subjected to further red tape without appropriate consultation."

Jeremy Beadles, chief executive of the Wine and Spirits Trade Association, said: "What this could lead to is the farcical situation where someone who lives on the city boundary could not buy alcohol on special offer in their local shop, but by just crossing the road into another local authority area, they could."

Marjorie Thomas, Edinburgh's licensing board convener, said: "We will be taking advice from both our licensing standards officers and the police and expect the issue to be discussed later in the year."

A Government spokesman: "It is for licensing boards to decide what is right in their area within the provisions of the 2005 Act."