There has been a mixed reaction to Waitrose’s decision to introduce sensible drinking advice on shelves from Monday.
The new shelf barkers show recommended government limits (three to four units for men and two to three units for women) as well as a warning about the legal age for buying alcohol.
The supermarket, which is also looking into displaying unit information on own labels, believes the trade needs to take a proactive stance on responsible retailing to avoid legislation.
But Ian McLernon, marketing director of Unwins, said the off-licence chain had no similar plans, and decisions about consumption were best left to consumers. “Promoting responsible drinking is a good
thing, but I’m not sure this would be the right route for us,” he said.
“When you are selling products to the large majority of responsible consumers, the decision about how much to buy and for what occasion is theirs, and not the retailer’s. The other difference is, we have a member of staff on hand, unlike supermarkets.”
He said Unwins educated its staff to help people enjoy alcohol responsibly, and supported unit labelling for alcohol. “Communication about how much to drink is a societal issue, it’s not something retailers can crack themselves.”
Mike Paul, MD of Western Wines and chairman of the Wine Trade Action Group which has commissioned research on what part wine plays in binge drinking, welcomed the decision. “I think what Waitrose is doing makes sense,” he said. “We are keen to say that wine is part of the problem, and help come up with solutions.”
Claire Hu
The new shelf barkers show recommended government limits (three to four units for men and two to three units for women) as well as a warning about the legal age for buying alcohol.
The supermarket, which is also looking into displaying unit information on own labels, believes the trade needs to take a proactive stance on responsible retailing to avoid legislation.
But Ian McLernon, marketing director of Unwins, said the off-licence chain had no similar plans, and decisions about consumption were best left to consumers. “Promoting responsible drinking is a good
thing, but I’m not sure this would be the right route for us,” he said.
“When you are selling products to the large majority of responsible consumers, the decision about how much to buy and for what occasion is theirs, and not the retailer’s. The other difference is, we have a member of staff on hand, unlike supermarkets.”
He said Unwins educated its staff to help people enjoy alcohol responsibly, and supported unit labelling for alcohol. “Communication about how much to drink is a societal issue, it’s not something retailers can crack themselves.”
Mike Paul, MD of Western Wines and chairman of the Wine Trade Action Group which has commissioned research on what part wine plays in binge drinking, welcomed the decision. “I think what Waitrose is doing makes sense,” he said. “We are keen to say that wine is part of the problem, and help come up with solutions.”
Claire Hu
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