Booze bill sees sales slump

Published on Sunday 27 November 2011 00:00

SALES of beer in Scotland have slumped dramatically since the introduction of a ban on discount deals and multi-buy options.

Off-sales from shops plunged by 14 per cent within just four weeks of the Scottish Government introducing the ban, according to new independent research.

The Alcohol (Scotland) Act 2010 is aimed at reducing the incentive to buy in bulk and was introduced by the SNP administration to combat Scotland’s culture of high alcohol consumption.

The drop, measured against the same period last year, comes despite the efforts of supermarkets to mitigate the impact of the ban, which came into force at the start of October.

Data from the trade magazine The Grocer and market research from analysts Nielsen revealed the 14 per cent drop is in contrast to a fall of just 3 per cent in England and Wales over the same period.

In practical terms the ban – designed to outlaw “irresponsible promotions” – prevents supermarkets from selling two cases of beer normally costing £17.99 each at £20 for both.

In a bid to mitigate the impact, the number of individual alcohol products on price-reduction promotions over the same period has rocketed from 753 to 1,178, according to the report.

In the case of wine, Tesco circumvented laws by telling customers in Scotland they will continue to get the same deals by shopping online, because Tesco Wine Club’s distribution centre is in Daventry in England, and therefore is not affected by the new laws.

Despite the supermarkets’ attempts, the ban appears to have had an impact.

Dr Evelyn Gillan, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said the results proved the direct link between price and levels of alcohol consumption and she welcomed the reduction.

“If people are buying less, they are drinking less and they are reducing the harm that alcohol causes,” she said. “It’s also a relief to see that there’s been a reduction in consumption, given the best efforts of some of the supermarkets to circumvent that legislation.”

However, Gillan said the move would need to be backed up by the introduction of the Minimum Pricing Bill, which was defeated in the last parliament, in order to save lives.

“We’ve always said that minimum pricing is the critical missing piece of the jigsaw, because if you have a set price per unit it’s not possible to circumvent in the way that the supermarkets were trying to do,” she said.“If there is no financial incentive to buy in bulk and you have a floor price [per unit] then we’ll start to see big changes, and that’s what we need if we’re going to save lives in Scotland.”

The initial results are likely to strengthen health secretary Nicola Sturgeon’s pledge this month to re-introduce a minimum price for every unit sold by next summer.

The proposal by the SNP minority government was one of the most contentious issues of the last parliament and was defeated due to Labour opposition. However, it is set to be passed now the government has a majority.

During the first attempt to bring forward the legislation, the government proposed setting the minimum price at 45p per unit, although the new price has not yet been finalised.

The Scottish Government estimates that the medical and social costs of alcohol amount to £3.5 billion per year.

If the Minimum Pricing Bill is introduced, it is claimed that in the first year there would be 50 fewer deaths from alcohol-related harm, 1,200 fewer hospital admissions and £5.5 million saved in healthcare costs.

Scottish Labour has said it will not support minimum pricing.

A spokesman said: “It simply does not follow that a decline in sales resulting from the discount ban makes the case for minimum pricing. If anything the opposite is true.

“Only last week, the Institute for Fiscal Studies pointed out a major flaw in the SNP’s proposals, as their report showed minimum pricing does not target problem drinkers and creates huge windfalls for alcohol retailers which could be used to reduce the price of other alcohol.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “There is a clear link between the price of alcohol and consumption levels, which makes tackling the issue of price essential if we are to reduce consumption levels. We believe that minimum pricing would be the most effective and efficient way to tackle alcohol misuse.”

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17

Jools in Edinburgh

Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 11:52 PM

Of course what Charles says may still stand. Even if there has been a reduction in sales how do we know who is buying less alcohol. More than likely this is responsible drinkers cutting back a bit while the binge addicts continue to spend lots.

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16

New Unionism

Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 11:39 PM

What would folk rather see, empty pubs closed down becoming blights on our high street or the end of Tesco and the others dictating booze prices? No brainer even for old unionists

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15

peter58

Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 09:28 PM

However, I'm sure that won't stop them!

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14

peter58

Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 09:27 PM

The drop in sales on previous weeks probably reflects the massive hike in sales prior to introduction returning to more normal levels - you will only get meaningful stastistics two or three years from now and even that has to be set agaiinst trends over longer terms. A little early for the SNP and its fellow travellers to be claiming vindication.

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13

samcoldstream

Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 09:39 AM

There will always be a hard core of Scottish drinkers who will never change their habits despite legislation. However, all the measures coming into force will eventually reduce alcohol consumption, especially as the economy gets worse, as it surely will. However, the real difference will be seen in years top come. Politicians only have themselves to blame. The decision to legislate for a relaxation of licensing hours in Scotland, and a reduction in real terms of the price of alcohol by successive Chancellors has caught up with society.

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12

jack hobbs

Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 09:04 AM

The cost of spirits in the supermarkets this last 10 days has been fantastic. 1 Litre Famous Grouse (Sainsbury's) £13.00, 70cl Teachers (Morrisons) £10.00 absolutely wonderful keep it coming. 12 cans 440cl, John Smiths, (Morrisons) £7.00. Keep it coming, cheers Alex you have my vote.Stop moaning everyone and get out there and buy lots !!!! Stock up for summer !!! Why not stock up for Christmas 2012.

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11

Auld Twa

Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 08:40 AM

"The drop, measured against the same period last year, comes despite the efforts of supermarkets to mitigate the impact of the ban" We have just received our Tesco loyalty coupons with instructions on how to change them for alcohol vouchers on line to avoid the legal ban in Scotland. We think that the governmentshould double the "Tesco" Tax as long as companies openly flout the spirit of the law, puting their profit before the health of Scots.

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10

Tom M.

Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 06:28 AM

What is needed is a change of culture, not a change in pricing....

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9

ELDee

Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 05:49 AM

So we'll need another set of dicounts to clear the shelves..no?

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8

Charles Linskaill

Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 02:16 AM

Since When has it been common place to infringe on our purse strings, and freedom of choices in what is being sold in our market places, But there you have it, The Scottish Government Robbing us all for their deluded lost cause, While Frank-the-Tramp, Begs for money ten minutes longer, Laughs His Head Off at the Scottish Governments Idiotic Madness of Alcohol Control, And goes to his local supermarket to purchase his usual booze which will make him in his usual drunken state, But as Happy as Larry he still can be in a drunken state, no matter the Scottish Government's idiotic way of solving the alcohol problem in Scotland,

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7

Annie Baird

Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 01:20 AM

Eh... #2 Charlie. Now we know that you're a bit of a 20 Watt bulb in this place.... but you've told us a million times that these kind of mesaures won't stop anyone drinking, that people will still find the money blah blah blah ... Here is some initial evidence that shows just how wrong you are. So shut you're bleating and away and get ripped into your favourite gut-rot cider while you can. You may not be ever be in line for a liver transplant but you might yet be Scotlands first brain transplant... if we can find a Yorkshire Terrier as the donor.

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6

zippitydoodaa

Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 12:55 AM

#2 Charles.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................What's with all the random capital letters? Obviously alcohol isn't expensive enough going by your inane ramblings, day in, day out - you must be blootered 247 to write what you write. it's the only explanation.

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5

Wardog

Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 12:44 AM

Excellent news, no more drunk Rufus marching up and down the street with his tattooed belly out banging at 3am.

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4

antiparasite

Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 12:32 AM

Legalise Cannabis....

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3

antiparasite

Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 12:30 AM

Good, too many drunks cause too much trouble....

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