Proposals to ban bogof deals on supermarket alcohol set a dangerous precedent for future intervention in the market, retail leaders warned today.
The move is due to be announced this afternoon, as the government presses ahead with proposals to introduce minimum pricing, with a level expected to be set at 45p per unit.
The bogof ban, which ignores calls for the proposal to be dropped by MPs on the health committee, could herald future attacks on other areas, including fizzy drinks and food high in salt, fat or sugar, warned the BRC.
“The government should not allow interfering in the market to regulate prices and promotions to become the default approach for public health policy” said BRC food director, Andrew Opie.
“Most major retailers believe minimum pricing and controls on promotions are unfair to most customers. They simply penalise the vast majority, who are perfectly responsible drinkers, while doing nothing to reduce irresponsible drinking.”
The plans for minimum pricing have split retailers, with some, including Tesco and The Co-operative Group supportive of the proposals.
However, Opie said there was a growing sense of unease among retailers at the government’s interventionist approach, which flew in the face of previous co-operation in the Responsibility Deal.
“We think it’s a slippery slope,” he added.
The 45p per unit level is higher than the 40p that the government had previously indicated would be used in its much delayed proposals.
And even before the official announcement there has been uproar from the industry over the lack of evidence behind the plans and the potential to damage trade.
“This policy does not target problem drinkers - it simply hits everyone and in particular the vast majority of whom drink responsibly,” said Andrew Cowan, country director for Diageo Great Britain. “There is also no evidence to suggest that a ban on multi-buy discounts will affect alcohol sales. “
A government consultation on the scheme will last 10 weeks, which will coincide with the resumption of a legal challenge in Scotland in which the coalition has joined forces with the Scottish government to defend plans for 50p per unit minimum pricing, against opposition from suppliers, the EC and a string of European states.
“The Government should think again before pressing ahead with this ill-thought through policy,” said WSTA CEO Miles Beale.
However, the health lobby is already saying the plans do not go far enough.
“There is a great deal of evidence to support the simple economic fact that even higher minimum alcohol pricing would achieve a greater reduction in binge drinking and alcohol-related anti-social behaviour, health issues and crime levels,” said Yasmin Batliwala, chair of the Westminster Drug Project.
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