Asda joins forces with Tesco in move to end era of cheap alcohol

Published on Thursday 21 February 2008 20:58

MANDATORY price rises for alcohol to counter binge drinking moved a step closer yesterday as supermarkets agreed to talks with ministers.

Asda last night followed Tesco by announcing it was willing to discuss measures including a ban on cheap alcohol deals.

It reveals the pressure faced by supermarkets, convenience stores and pubs as governments at Holyrood and Westminster respond to calls from doctors to end Britain's "alcohol epidemic".

The British Medical Association yesterday called for an increase in taxes on alcohol, an end to "irresponsible" cheap deals, standardised warning labels on bottles and cans and a cut in the drink-drive limit.

Tesco appeared to seize the initiative on Wednesday by indicating it would support moves to end cut-price beer and wine deals. But in reality, retailers have been forced into action by Kenny MacAskill, Scotland's justice minister, who wants to pass laws setting minimum prices for alcohol, and Chancellor Alistair Darling, who is considering a sharp rise in duty on drink in next month's Budget.

Mr MacAskill described Tesco's comments as a "step in the right direction". But he added: "Talk is cheap – as cheap as the bucketloads of drink they sell to get folk into their shops.

"I would urge the UK government to take practical action to stem the tide of cheap alcohol that is having such an impact on our health, our public safety and our economy. They will have the support of the Scottish Government if they do."

Retailers said raising prices to tackle binge drinking amounted to a "yob tax" that could spur a middle-class backlash.

But Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians and chairman of the UK Alcohol Health Alliance, welcomed the Tesco "turnaround".

He said: "Alcohol is not an ordinary commodity. It is legal and it is part of our society, but it is a drug and a drug of dependence in some people. It should not be subject to promotions and use as a loss-leader."

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, the BMA's head of science and ethics, said: "As doctors, we see first-hand how alcohol misuse destroys lives. It causes family breakdowns, is a major factor in domestic violence, ruins job prospects, is often related to crime and disorderly behaviour and kills."

Voluntary codes employed by the drinks industry were not enough, said Dr Nathanson.

Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the BMA, said

the entertainment industry also had a key role to play, especially after Wednesday's Brit Awards, where several performers were clearly drunk.

'This highlights the risk of binge drinking and should be a warning to young and old'

A JUDGE yesterday criticised Scotland's binge drinking culture as he jailed a man for five and a half years for killing a friend after a drunken row.

James Best, 52, pushed Joe Blair, 60, to the ground and then as his victim lay unconscious head-butted him three times and kicked him.

Both men had been out celebrating the success of their football team, Port Glasgow Juniors, and drinking heavily.

Judge Lord Hardie told Best he had launched a "cowardly, vicious attack upon a defenceless man", head-butting him with such force that Best injured his own forehead.

Lord Hardie added: "The anti-social and violent behaviour of people who have been binge drinking is normally associated with immature young people.

"It causes even greater concern that a supposedly mature person should behave in this way.

"This case highlights what can be the extreme consequences of binge drinking and should be highlighted to warn young and old of the risk associated with it. It causes people to behave in a way they might not otherwise do."

Lord Hardie also urged the licensing authorities in Port Glasgow to look into the circumstances surrounding Mr Blair's death.

He told Best: "It appears you and other customers, including Mr Blair, may have been served with alcohol by a public house within their jurisdiction at a time when these customers were already intoxicated."

The court heard an argument flared after Mr Blair, who ran a barber's shop in the town, playfully tried to hug a woman as they waited outside a taxi office on 11 October. His subsequent killing was captured on CCTV cameras and shown in court.

Mr Blair's sister, Pamela McKechnie, 41, of Kilbirnie, said: "It started off as a minor tiff between two drunk guys and developed into a silly scuffle.

"We could have understood what happened and forgiven Best for what was an accident."