Retransmitting picture adding keyword. File photo dated 02/09/2010 of cans of lager and cider on the shelves in an off-licence. Doctors leaders have urged the Prime Minister to end 'damaging' speculation that the Government is poised to abandon plans for the minimum pricing of alcohol. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Wednesday March 13, 2013. See PA story Politics Alcohol . Photo credit should read: David Cheskin/PA Wire

Norwich Landlords upset at unit pricing move

Mark Shields Thursday, March 14, 2013
9:48 AM

It was hailed as the alcohol measure that could save lives, cut crime and reinvigorate our pubs.

A minimum charge of 45p per unit was expected to reduce consumption, deter binge drinkers and stop supermarkets attracting people away from local watering holes with promises of cut-price alcohol.

But speculation is mounting that the government may be ready to abandon plans for minimum unit pricing that prime minister David Cameron had previously championed personally, despite his assurances yesterday that the government is still focused on cracking down on problem drinking.

Industry critics had questioned the effectiveness of a minimum unit price in that battle, claiming the only people to be affected would be responsible moderate drinkers and that price would not prove a deterrent to alcoholics.

But health campaigners say any U-turn would be “a disaster” for public health.

Norwich North MP Chloe Smith, who greeted the unit price enthusiastically in November, said her position had not changed but that the next move would depend upon the outcome of a consultation that began in November.

She said: “I have said in the past this would be a positive move for Norwich pubs. And I still feel it would be positive move.

“It would tackle the competition that many pubs face from supermarkets selling cheaper booze.

“Obviously, right now, a consultation has been done and I look forward to discovering what comes out of it. It’s important the government takes all evidence into account.”

Nick De’Ath, chairman of the Norwich Licensing Forum, said abandoning the plans would be “the wrong thing to do”.

He said: “Minimum pricing is a way of stopping the drink problem that we have, and it has been proven to work in Scotland and other places. It would reduce the harmful risks of alcohol, and putting it on the backburner would be the wrong thing.”

Mr De’Ath, who runs Norwich pubs the Unthank Arms and the Lawyer, said the minimum unit pricing would not affect the cost of a drink in a pub, but would go some way to reducing the “huge chasm” in price difference to supermarkets.

“The authorities are always saying they must be responsible retailers,” he said. “If my pub sold a shot of vodka for 20p they would close me down, but supermarkets can do it day in, day out.”

Phil Cutter, of the Murderers in Norwich, echoed those views, calling it “an opportunity missed” to level the playing field between supermarkets and licensed premises.

“Minimum pricing, would ultimately affect about 70pc of the alcohol sales which are made through supermarkets and off-licences in England and Wales,” he said.

“This would redress the disparity between the cost of alcohol sold in supermarkets, but wouldn’t necessarily increase the taxation burden on these sales, unlike pubs, who continue to pay the highest amount of tax on alcohol in Europe.”

At the time that the plans were first floated in November, it was estimated the pricing plan could have cut alcohol consumption by 3.3pc and reduced the number of crimes by 5,000 and hospital admission by 24,000. Predictions also pointed at 700 fewer alcohol-linked deaths every year.

Moderate drinkers would have seen their alcohol bill rise by around £7 per year, but harmful drinkers – men who drink 50 units or more a week, or women who drink 35 – would need to find an extra £118.

The national health benefits could total £400m in savings, while a reduction in crime could save £13m.

Martin Ward, vice-chairman of the Norwich and Norfolk branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), said the organisation had been behind the plans but would wait to see what other measures were proposed by the government.

He said: “Some have said it’s a crude system and it could to more to harm to the drinks industry overall. There’s been a lot of debate but not a concerted plan of action.”

The Wine and Spirits Trade Association has long opposed the plans for minimum unit pricing, launching a campaign called Why Should Responsible Drinkers Pay More?

It argues that the impact would be felt hardest by the lowest third of earners, who are already being hit by tax rises, increasing energy bills and wage freezes, adding to some of the highest alcohol taxes in Europe.

The majority would be punished for the actions of a “reckless minority”, it says, adding that 78pc of people drink within recommended drinking guidelines, with average consumption already down 16pc since 2004.

Improving education and enforcing and toughening laws would be a more effective tool against binge-drinking and anti-social behaviour, the campaign says.

The Norwich Evening News has been urging people to support their local pubs through its Love Your Local campaign. For more stories from the campaign, visit www.eveningnews24. co.uk

10 comments

The minimum unit price is nothing to do with pubs vs supermarkets and all to do with ensuring that a reasonable amount of alcohol costs a reasonable amount. Pubs will always be 'expensive' compared to alcohol bought from a shop - after all you're not just paying for the alcohol you're paying for the choice, the seats, the staff, the heating, the lights, the glasses etc. That's the same for restaurants who charge to create a meal for you from the ingredients that you could buy yourself. Minimum unit pricing wouldn't affect the full price of the vast majority of drinks - maybe a few pence on the very cheapest bottles of wine - but it would stop supermarkets (and anyone else) discounting products to a ludicrously low figure - vodka at 22p a shot anyone? How this 'targets the poor' is beyond me. Is it really an advisable government policy to make sure cheap alcohol is available to those with the least disposable income? Personally I think tackling the issues causing poverty should be their priority. The minimum unit price is almost universally supported by medical professionals who know that cheap alcohol in bulk is too easily available to those who are beginning to struggle to control their alcohol intake. I watched a man in the supermarket yesterday counting out loose change on the counter to make sure he had enough to pay for his purchases - an economy pizza and a bottle of 'value' whiskey. Taking out the issue of why he only had small change wouldn't it have been better for him and for society as a whole if he'd had enough to buy the pizza and a couple of cans of something?

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My opinion

Friday, March 15, 2013
I wonder if the U turn re press complaints had anything to do with Nigel Farage's dinner with Mr Murdoch last week? "Regulate the press and we'll support UKIP".

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DocOhNo

Thursday, March 14, 2013
DaveCam makes more catchy populist promises than anyone can possibly hope to keep track of or for that matter than his government could possily hope to enact, so who cares. These clowns are never held to account for not keeping promises. So far we've had almost 3 years of every pre-election promise either forgotten or broken, and in their place a load of new gimmicks (gay marriage etc). Today's promises will be forgotten soon enough because we will be too engrossed by the next ones. The aim is to generate a constant stream of popular 'feel good' rather than actually addressing issues, especially if the issues left unaddressed are benefitting vested interests. Yesterday he was back-tracking on alcohol pricing, and today its keeping the press moguls sweet by climbing-down on Leveson's recommendations. How could we have been so blind to believe a former spin doctor would make a good leader?

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Police Commissioner ???

Thursday, March 14, 2013
According to my 'daily' paper, Cameron is determined to get rid of the 'scourge of cheap alcohol' - come 2015, we can get rid of the scourge of Cameron (Clegg + Smith).

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biglingers

Thursday, March 14, 2013
Pubs need to charge the minimum price of 45p per unit,then folk wopuld start to frequent these more often !

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Albert Cooper

Thursday, March 14, 2013
I have always enjoyed pubs as a place to go to play or listen to music, meet friends and enjoy a congenial drink and perhaps some food as well. Nowadays I hardly ever go near them, as the price of drink (including soft drinks) is so astronomical. If I want a drink, I'd sooner spend £4.50 or so on a reasonable bottle of wine, than £3.40-£4.00 for a pint of beer; and that in a pub where no-one I know goes very often, because the prices are so steep. If the greedy publicans think it will do their businesses good to have retailed alcohol prices raised to pub rip-off levels, then I fear they are misguided. As for C. Smith, I'd just ignore her, as she clearly never has anybody's interests except her own in mind all the time.

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T Doff

Thursday, March 14, 2013
Food is far more expensive in pubs & restaurants than Lidl or Tesco - so why do these survive, thrive & continue to sell food? To say that a pubs survival depends on the unit cost of alcohol in supermarkets is misleading at best - good pubs do prosper , poorly run pubs use the price comparison as a convenient excuse for failure.

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Colonel Grumpfuttock-Horseposture (retired)

Thursday, March 14, 2013
Could Smith tell us to which organisation she is going to donate her extra £100 for second homes and "freeview ?" the thieving MP's have just awarded themselves ?. p.s. The clue is in the name "freeview"

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"V"

Thursday, March 14, 2013
Here we go again - the pubs whining about the competition. Yes, I do use pub's, but ones where the prices are realistic and you don't need a bankloan to go in. As for our female mp - she'll support anything that gives her media coverage. She'll be looking for a job in 2015

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biglingers

Thursday, March 14, 2013
Food is far more expensive in pubs & restaurants than Lidl or Tesco - so why do these survive, thrive & continue to sell food? To say that a pubs survival depends on the unit cost of alcohol in supermarkets is misleading at best - good pubs do prosper , poorly run pubs use the price comparison as a convenient excuse for failure.

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Colonel Grumpfuttock-Horseposture (retired)

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Norwich Landlords upset at unit pricing move

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