‘Hypocrisy’ of BMA’s cheap web wine deals

THE British Medical Association, which has been an outspoken supporter of minimum alcohol pricing, runs an exclusive wine club offering doctors substantial online discounts, it has emerged.

The Charles Hastings Wine Club – named after the founder of the BMA – provides its members with special deals, including fine wines sold below retail price.

The discount deals, only available online, will not be affected by the Scottish Government’s minimum pricing legislation, which is aimed at outlawing cheap supermarket offers.

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One such discount, promoted on wine merchant Berry, Bros and Rudd’s website, advertises a case of Chateau Picard, “exclusive to members of the Charles Hasting Wine Club”, being sold at “in bond” price (excluding UK duty and taxes) instead of retail price.

The BMA, which represents doctors and medical students, has given its backing to the SNP’s policy to introduce a minimum price for alcohol to help reduce the “scourge of alcohol abuse” in the country. It also lobbied against cheap bulk sales in supermarkets, calling for them to be banned.

The club, which is featured on the BMA’s website, also organises wine tours, visits to whisky distilleries and excursions to pubs and ale houses.

A recent week-long tour offered members the chance to visit the Glenmorangie, Glenlivet and Glenfiddich distilleries and enjoy “a small sampling of their golden nectar”.

The trip, organised by McLean Scotland, also offered visits to “many excellent traditional Scottish pubs” in Edinburgh.

The Scottish Government’s Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) Bill was formally endorsed by MSPs earlier this month. It was backed by the Conservatives and Lib Dems, with only Labour withholding support.

The BMA was one of several health bodies, including the Royal College of Nursing and the Chief Medical Officer, that backed the legislation.

Dr Brian Keighley, chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said: “The eyes of the world are on Scotland as we rise to the challenge of tackling its drinking culture and attempt to get a grip of the problem.

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“In Scotland, the government has embraced the BMA’s policies on tackling alcohol misuse and has already legislated to improve licensing and end promotions to encourage bulk-buying of alcohol in supermarkets.”

Last night, Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said: “It shows more than a whiff of hypocrisy that the BMA seeks to support minimum pricing but that its members enjoy discounted wine, particularly that bought over the internet that will evade the effect of minimum pricing.”

Labour’s Scottish health spokesman Richard Simpson, a former GP, said: “If the club sells alcohol then I hope that it sets a good example and respects Scotland by making sure that all sales are above the minimum price.”

In a 2008 speech to the BMA conference in Edinburgh, Probal Banerjee, a GP from Rhondda in Wales, called on doctors who are members of the wine club to “adopt sensible drinking behaviours”.

Yesterday, a spokeswoman for BMA Scotland said: “The BMA is not opposed to alcohol per se – and has always argued for its sensible consumption.

“There is a Charles Hastings Wine Club, which encourages doctors to consider the sensible use of alcohol, but the ability to buy alcohol at a discount is not a benefit of BMA membership.”

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: “This is a matter for the BMA.”

The Scottish Government has not yet announced what price per unit it will support for minimum alcohol pricing, but 45p has been used to illustrate the proposals.

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