Minimum booze pricing

[mightysaints]

This is nothing more than tax raising being dressed up as a health saving issue. Very hacked off with this

[Thedelldays]

The money from the drop in ciggy sales has to come from somewhere

[pap]

I'm not much of a drinker, so this won't affect me massively. Even when I do drink, it ain't White Lightning.

[trousers]

Typical government sledgehammer to crack a nut approach

[hypochondriac]

So much for the tories dispensing with the big brother approach. And I say that as a supporter

[Golden Balls]

I work in the booze industry and would actually be all for this. 2 reasons why.

 

1. The company I work for owns lots of top brands (Jack Daniels, Bacardi etc), if minimum pricing per unit came in then it wouldn't affect the price of our products, it would only raise the price of the cheap crap. I'm all for that. £5 per litre of vodka and 35p cans of cider will no longer exist.

 

2. This is my main reason, independent licensees are suffering big time because of the ridiculous deals the supermarkets are putting on. Now so long as this minimum pricing is restricted to the supermarkets etc then it could actually boost businesses with people coming out earlier and spending a little more. I'm in pubs, bars and clubs all day and when you hear these long established venues are close to breaking point because people don't start coming out until 12/1am you can see why things need to change. Not only do people come out late but when they get out their too drunk too buy more drink anyway.

 

I should probably point out this is all my personal opinion.

[Wurzel]

Typical government sledgehammer to crack a nut approach

Agree with this, totally the wrong way of dealing with the problem they are trying to overcome. But, looking for a positive, it might make some of the big breweries up their game, If they are not able to artificially lower their costs they'll have to improve their taste and quality to make their products stand out.

[pap]

Chaps; no specific disrespect intended to trousers and hypo but isn't it the case that close to two entire generations have abrogated any sense of political responsibility?

 

If you're Conservative supporters, go join the Conservative party. Become part of that movement; add your voice to the mix. I know that minimum price drinking isn't necessarily the political touchstone to use as a jumping on point, but still

 

Political commentary without activism is a bit like commentary at football matches. It adds to the understanding but is negligible in the outcome.

[Thedelldays]

I heard on the radio about 10 mins ago about how a bottle of booze is more expensive than a bottle of water on some supermarkets

 

 

Where the fuk are these supermarkets then?

[hutch]

I heard on the radio about 10 mins ago about how a bottle of booze is more expensive than a bottle of water on some supermarkets

 

 

Where the fuk are these supermarkets then?

I think you already found them

[Golden Balls]

I heard on the radio about 10 mins ago about how a bottle of booze is more expensive than a bottle of water on some supermarkets

 

 

Where the fuk are these supermarkets then?

 

What's wrong with that? Do you mean the other way around? That would be slightly more interesting.

[Hatch]

I heard on the radio about 10 mins ago about how a bottle of booze is more expensive than a bottle of water on some supermarkets

 

 

Where the fuk are these supermarkets then?

 

 

No Way!

[Lord Duckhunter]

Perhaps the Government should insist on police and local councils enforcing the existing laws before interfering with a free market.

 

Serving somebody who is drunk is an offense. Therefore these people who get pre loaded on cheap booze will soon get fed up if they dont get served/let in once they finely make it out. Drunk and disorderly is an offense, perhaps if the police didn't turn a blind eye to **** heads acting like ***s and arrested them, things would be better.Pubs and clubs that continually serve drunks and have trouble should have their licences removed. Underage drinking laws should be enforced 100% including fines for bar staff that serve them.

 

However, the biggest change should be in people's attitudes towards drunks and idiots. For some reason British people seem to think it's funny that people get ****ed and play up. In other countries it is a shameful thing to be seen in public drunk.Until staggering around, pukeing up, mooning and other assorted side effects of drinking becomes socially unacceptable, no amount of price fixing will make a blind bit of difference. And I love drinking and think pubs are one of man's greatest inventions, why should the price I pay be affeced because the police wont enforce the law and the Government want a few cheap headline?

 

One more point, where does the Bullington Club sit regarding this moral crusade of Camerons?

[Big Bad Bob]

Typical government sledgehammer to crack a nut approach

 

Depends which nut you think they're trying to crack.

 

If it's the "stop people buying tons of cheap booze from Supermarkets and getting off of their face and causing trouble and disruption" nut then I don't think it's wrong.

 

If it's the "stop people ruining their livers with cheap booze" nut then you're right.

 

So much for the tories dispensing with the big brother approach. And I say that as a supporter

 

I fail to see the Big Brother approach here, well actually I don't, I sort of see what you're saying but obviously educating people about the dangers of drinking too much is failing.

[Hatch]

Depends which nut you think they're trying to crack.

 

If it's the "stop people buying tons of cheap booze from Supermarkets and getting off of their face and causing trouble and disruption" nut then I don't think it's wrong.

 

If it's the "stop people ruining their livers with cheap booze" nut then you're right.

 

 

But the sledgehammer they are using is the one labelled ' use this sledgehammer to smash 100,000 people when only a dozen are misbehaving'

[hypochondriac]

Chaps; no specific disrespect intended to trousers and hypo but isn't it the case that close to two entire generations have abrogated any sense of political responsibility?

 

If you're Conservative supporters, go join the Conservative party. Become part of that movement; add your voice to the mix. I know that minimum price drinking isn't necessarily the political touchstone to use as a jumping on point, but still

 

Political commentary without activism is a bit like commentary at football matches. It adds to the understanding but is negligible in the outcome.

 

Thing is I can't say I care enough to do that much about it. It's annoying sure but it's hardly life changing. When/if we ever get a referendum on Europe then I will be actively campaigning.

[hypochondriac]

Depends which nut you think they're trying to crack.

 

If it's the "stop people buying tons of cheap booze from Supermarkets and getting off of their face and causing trouble and disruption" nut then I don't think it's wrong.

 

If it's the "stop people ruining their livers with cheap booze" nut then you're right.

 

 

 

I fail to see the Big Brother approach here, well actually I don't, I sort of see what you're saying but obviously educating people about the dangers of drinking too much is failing.

 

 

But I fail to see how imposing price restrictions will stop this. It won't really if we are honest.

[pap]

Thing is I can't say I care enough to do that much about it. It's annoying sure but it's hardly life changing. When/if we ever get a referendum on Europe then I will be actively campaigning.

 

They say people get the Government they deserve, I suppose.

[hypochondriac]

They say people get the Government they deserve, I suppose.

 

Are you saying I should join the Tory party and actively campaign over a small increase in booze? As I said, it really isn't that important. It's a small annoyance but not really anything I care deeply enough to try to change. Are you an active member of a political party?

[pap]

Of course, the real solution to any substance abuse problem generally lies in making life less sh!t. Though TSW fails to agree on much, I think there will be some consensus for the following statement; pretty much any recreational chemical we whack into our bodies is a form of escapism.

[pap]

Are you saying I should join the Tory party and actively campaign over a small increase in booze? As I said, it really isn't that important. It's a small annoyance but not really anything I care deeply enough to try to change. Are you an active member of a political party?

 

Nope, I'm saying that I see you and others engage in a lot of political debate. I've already said that minimum price alcohol probably isn't the political touchstone to campaign on. But then, we've had other issues you care about a lot go in one ear of Parliament and out the other. The Conservative Party as constituted is finished. The only thing that'll get Cameron into office in 2015 is keeping Scotland in the Union. Whatever, the next time the Tories have to gain power, they would be mental to stack the front bench with toffs. That only leaves people like you as remotely electable.

 

I am a member of a political party; I've only joined recently and I haven't really done any campaigning; mostly on account of a pretty busy sales pipeline with the business. I have been to a couple of meetings though, and the sort of conviction you find at the grass roots seems a lot more genuine than the soundbites generated by the media machines that run the respective parties.

[thefunkygibbons]

Typical government sledgehammer to crack a nut approach

 

Disagree - alcohol abuse is a massive problem in the UK, and we are storing up huge problems for the future especially for women

 

Just because most people do not want to face up to the effect of their habits and many are in denial as to their true drink intake, it does not degate the fact that the Government should remind people that alcohol is basically a poison

 

The only way to reduce alcohol consumption is to increase price (through regulation) and reduce availability (through licensing)

 

All IMHO

[Thedelldays]

What's wrong with that? Do you mean the other way around? That would be slightly more interesting.

 

That's what Meant lol

[Big Bad Bob]

Disagree - alcohol abuse is a massive problem in the UK, and we are storing up huge problems for the future especially for women

 

Just because most people do not want to face up to the effect of their habits and many are in denial as to their true drink intake, it does not degate the fact that the Government should remind people that alcohol is basically a poison

 

The only way to reduce alcohol consumption is to increase price (through regulation) and reduce availability (through licensing)

 

All IMHO

 

The thing is, education isn't working, and, as Pap has said, people see booze as an escape from their mundane lives!

 

Also, getting "off your head" is seen as socially acceptable behaviour by some.

 

Given that and the amount of disposable income that the drinking demographic have and there really is little that can be done to stop the excesses.

 

If you think about the costs outside of drinking to the NHS, the Police, the Clean Up crews etc then the attempts to curb this are within reason.

 

 

What we really do need, is the Cafe drinking culture of our European cousins, not the go out and get smashed culture that has somehow gained pace over the last 20 years or so...

[Wurzel]

But the sledgehammer they are using is the one labelled ' use this sledgehammer to smash 100,000 people when only a dozen are misbehaving'

Exactly this. And if those dozen are hooked on getting ****ed out of their minds every so often why are higher pricers going to stop them. Does it stop drug taking? No, they'll still drink the same amount and find "other ways" of obtaining the funds necessary.

I'd be in favour of raising drinking age to 21.

When we were younger we left school, started frequenting pubs (not necessarily in that order) but our "locals" were full of a mixed age group who would sort us out if we overstepped the mark. Now kids head straight for the clubs, full of their own age group (or drink at home amongst friends) and don't have others except door staff telling them when to stop. Raising it to 21 would get them used to socialising without getting ****ed, hopefully by then they won't feel the need. I'd love to see the continental cafe culture take off over here ( only thing I'm pro-Europe about) but maybe we need some longer warmer evenings.

[pap]

The other factor to consider is the black market. Counterfeit alcohol poses a health risk with prices set as they are. I'd expect to see more of that once this legislation comes in. More unlicensed distilleries too.

[dinger]

Exactly this. And if those dozen are hooked on getting ****ed out of their minds every so often why are higher pricers going to stop them. Does it stop drug taking? No, they'll still drink the same amount and find "other ways" of obtaining the funds necessary.

I'd be in favour of raising drinking age to 21.

When we were younger we left school, started frequenting pubs (not necessarily in that order) but our "locals" were full of a mixed age group who would sort us out if we overstepped the mark. Now kids head straight for the clubs, full of their own age group (or drink at home amongst friends) and don't have others except door staff telling them when to stop. Raising it to 21 would get them used to socialising without getting ****ed, hopefully by then they won't feel the need. I'd love to see the continental cafe culture take off over here ( only thing I'm pro-Europe about) but maybe we need some longer warmer evenings.

 

There's a lot of truth in this, IMO. There's a student union vibe to many bars now, that pretty much invites competetive drinking.

 

I don't think a cafe culture is ever going to take off here. We have, for hundreds of years, been a North European drinking culture and I can't see that changing.

[pap]

Excellent points, dinger and wurzel.

 

The loss of the local pub, either through over-taxation, over-corporatisation and/or the smoking ban has been one of the biggest pieces of cultural vandalism this country has ever seen.

 

I'd echo your points about the mixed age groups once providing a positive influence. Not so sure now. The problem with widespread closures is that the hard core drinkers all tend to concentrate in the few locals that remain, changing what a local is and deterring more people from going.

[Golden Balls]

I don't like that this is being put across as some sort of scheme to help with people who have a drinking problem. If someone wants to get hammered, they will no matter what the cost. All it will do is increase crime in order to gain funds to afford alcohol.

 

They intend to set the price at 45p per unit. That won't really affect the majority really. But you just know that every budget it will go up by 5p, if not more. That's my only worry with this.

[hutch]

Disagree - alcohol abuse is a massive problem in the UK, and we are storing up huge problems for the future especially for women

 

Just because most people do not want to face up to the effect of their habits and many are in denial as to their true drink intake, it does not degate the fact that the Government should remind people that alcohol is basically a poison

 

The only way to reduce alcohol consumption is to increase price (through regulation) and reduce availability (through licensing)

 

All IMHO

There's the problem in a nutshell. I agree with the first highlight - alcohol abuse is a problem. But the proposed solution is to reduce alcohol consumption. Alcohol consumption isn't the problem, abuse is. Why not tackle alcohol abuse instead?

[solentstars]

Disagree - alcohol abuse is a massive problem in the UK, and we are storing up huge problems for the future especially for women

 

Just because most people do not want to face up to the effect of their habits and many are in denial as to their true drink intake, it does not degate the fact that the Government should remind people that alcohol is basically a poison

 

The only way to reduce alcohol consumption is to increase price (through regulation) and reduce availability (through licensing)

 

All IMHO

I agree I remember people saying the same about smoking in the 1970s and has been very successful.it will not effect a lot of drinkers who have sensible amounts but hopefully stop the p I ssheads who make life a misery in estates and drinkdriveing and town centre aggro.

 

 

 

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2

[Lord Duckhunter]

.it will not effect a lot of drinkers who have sensible amounts but hopefully stop the p I ssheads who make life a misery in estates and drinkdriveing and town centre aggro.

 

 

 

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2

 

How will increasing the price not effect a sensible drinker like me?

 

If it's a health issue, then what is the differance between that and obesity, is anyone suggesting putting the price of burgers or chips up. If it's a public order issue, then let's ensure the laws are enforced. Serving someone who is clearly drunk is against the law, as is anti social behaviour and drunk and disorderly.

 

If you make Tesco increase the price that they have to charge for their drinks, surely you increase their margin. So instead of dealing with people breaking the law we intend to increase the price that everyone pays, including sensible drinkers on low wages.We then pour more money into the large supermarket chains coffers. Strange sort of redistrubution of wealth if you ask me.

[Clapham Saint]

How will increasing the price not effect a sensible drinker like me?

 

If it's a health issue, then what is the differance between that and obesity, is anyone suggesting putting the price of burgers or chips up. If it's a public order issue, then let's ensure the laws are enforced. Serving someone who is clearly drunk is against the law, as is anti social behaviour and drunk and disorderly.

 

If you make Tesco increase the price that they have to charge for their drinks, surely you increase their margin. So instead of dealing with people breaking the law we intend to increase the price that everyone pays, including sensible drinkers on low wages.We then pour more money into the large supermarket chains coffers. Strange sort of redistrubution of wealth if you ask me.

 

The price of "normal" booze shouldn't be affected.

 

If as part of your sensible drinking habbits you enjoy a glass of red it will likely be the same price. If your sensible drinking habits include white lightning then, yes you will be stiffed and have to pay more.

[thefunkygibbons]

There's the problem in a nutshell. I agree with the first highlight - alcohol abuse is a problem. But the proposed solution is to reduce alcohol consumption. Alcohol consumption isn't the problem, abuse is. Why not tackle alcohol abuse instead?

 

Surely starting to regulate price to stop deals where alcohol is cheaper than water is focusing on abuse?

 

Minimum price of 45p per unit is too low to stop normal social drinking and certainly will not affect pubs and clubs

[mightysaints]

Its a total money making racket. Whats worse is that goverment and NICE think we are stupid enough to believe them that they are doing this for our own good. I have been around Europe enough to see that they don't have the social problems we see even though most if not all beer/wine etc is far cheeper. Worked in Finland for 4 months, their high content booze can only be brought from a Bonded store, its very expensive and saw plenty of problems with booze there so upping the cost does not work. Cost will not and never will change the small minority of people who are in all intence Alcholics that this is aimed at. Yet again most of us will get hit as its an easy thing do, sledge hammer and nut. The kids that have alcholic parents will suffer, booze or food for kids.....booze will win every time, so by going down this route you end up giving the kids even less but the goverment recovers even more revenue.

[Lord Duckhunter]

The price of "normal" booze shouldn't be affected.

 

If as part of your sensible drinking habbits you enjoy a glass of red it will likely be the same price. If your sensible drinking habits include white lightning then, yes you will be stiffed and have to pay more.

 

On Daily Politics today, said cheap bottle of wine will go up 80p. I like a cheap bottle of wine once in a while.

 

Also they were talking about an end to BOGOF or cheap multi buys. I prefer to drink in pubs, but take tonight for instance, I have to drive so will sink a couple of Peronis when I get in. Got them up the co-op 2 packs of 4 for £8. Why should this stop because some toe rags cant behave themselves?

 

It's the principle I'm more against. Government should set tax levels, then get the hell out of people's shopping. If a shop keeper wants to reduce the price of beer, to bring punters in, who then buy Ciggies, crisps, nuts, a video ect, why the hell should the government stop him. It's none of their business, it's a legal product for which they set the tax for. What people sell it at should be none of their business. If it's costing the NHS money, then increase the tax and plough the extra into the NHS or drink awareness courses not Tesco or Asda's profits.

[solentstars]

How will increasing the price not effect a sensible drinker like me?

 

If it's a health issue, then what is the differance between that and obesity, is anyone suggesting putting the price of burgers or chips up. If it's a public order issue, then let's ensure the laws are enforced. Serving someone who is clearly drunk is against the law, as is anti social behaviour and drunk and disorderly.

 

If you make Tesco increase the price that they have to charge for their drinks, surely you increase their margin. So instead of dealing with people breaking the law we intend to increase the price that everyone pays, including sensible drinkers on low wages.We then pour more money into the large supermarket chains coffers. Strange sort of redistrubution of wealth if you ask me.

you could make the same argument for smokers and drivers if you use that logic but i agree it will increase supermarket profits i would rather government taxed it higher.

[solentstars]

Its a total money making racket. Whats worse is that goverment and NICE think we are stupid enough to believe them that they are doing this for our own good. I have been around Europe enough to see that they don't have the social problems we see even though most if not all beer/wine etc is far cheeper. Worked in Finland for 4 months, their high content booze can only be brought from a Bonded store, its very expensive and saw plenty of problems with booze there so upping the cost does not work. Cost will not and never will change the small minority of people who are in all intence Alcholics that this is aimed at. Yet again most of us will get hit as its an easy thing do, sledge hammer and nut. The kids that have alcholic parents will suffer, booze or food for kids.....booze will win every time, so by going down this route you end up giving the kids even less but the goverment recovers even more revenue.

i think you need to go to most town centres on the weekend if you think its only a small minority who get drunk out of the skulls and how young they are and i doubt a majority of those have alcoholic parents who must despair at the state their daughters and sons come home after all those cheap shots .

[tpbury]

Practically any booze fuelled fight gets big headlines here in Qld, Oz, stuff that would happen routinely every week, every day in any town in England. I might live in a sheltered area of Brisbane, but when I see pictures of a 'nothing' punch up between some teenagers 60 miles away as the top story, I realise that this society is not as bust up as the hard streets of e.g. Ramsbottom or Winchester. A six pack of 5% beer (=2litres) costs $15 = 10GBP. Bottle of generic Vodka, maybe $30 = 17GBP. These prices are killing my alcohol wish, but I think are a deterrent to teenage (and adult!) boozing.

 

I can see an increasing move towards 'bundling' in order to discount for bulk purchases, which will only lead the Aussie teens to follow the tracks of their UK counterparts. On the other hand, whilst social divisisness is alive and wellin Australia, there is still quite a strong community feeling.

[Big Bad Bob]

On Daily Politics today, said cheap bottle of wine will go up 80p. I like a cheap bottle of wine once in a while.

 

Also they were talking about an end to BOGOF or cheap multi buys. I prefer to drink in pubs, but take tonight for instance, I have to drive so will sink a couple of Peronis when I get in. Got them up the co-op 2 packs of 4 for £8. Why should this stop because some toe rags cant behave themselves?

 

It's the principle I'm more against. Government should set tax levels, then get the hell out of people's shopping. If a shop keeper wants to reduce the price of beer, to bring punters in, who then buy Ciggies, crisps, nuts, a video ect, why the hell should the government stop him. It's none of their business, it's a legal product for which they set the tax for. What people sell it at should be none of their business. If it's costing the NHS money, then increase the tax and plough the extra into the NHS or drink awareness courses not Tesco or Asda's profits.

 

I don't know how much they're selling a unit for now but if a normal strength can is 1.5 units (??) that'll mean 67p minimum for that can, they don't have to give any of that to the government so (you're correct) they could make more profit (on the cheap stuff). It would be nice if they could offset that against the cost of premium beers/wines!!

 

I've just worked it out, I can get a 12 pack of Tetleys from ASDA for £9, that's 75p per can, I have seen it as low as £8 which is 67p. So I can't see that that would be affected.

 

The 3 cases for £18 deal will be though but I never buy that much booze in one hit.

[buctootim]

On Daily Politics today, said cheap bottle of wine will go up 80p. I like a cheap bottle of wine once in a while.

 

Also they were talking about an end to BOGOF or cheap multi buys. I prefer to drink in pubs, but take tonight for instance, I have to drive so will sink a couple of Peronis when I get in. Got them up the co-op 2 packs of 4 for £8. Why should this stop because some toe rags cant behave themselves?

 

 

Either you are misunderstanding the proposals or I am.

 

The plan is to create a minimum price per unit of alcohol, not to add a new tax on to all drinks. The minimum unit price is going to be around 50p so your 1 unit £1 Peronis wont change price nor will the price of your bottle of wine - unless you currently buy stuff for less than £4.

[Lord Duckhunter]

Either you are misunderstanding the proposals or I am.

 

The plan is to create a minimum price per unit of alcohol, not to add a new tax on to all drinks. The minimum unit price is going to be around 50p so your 1 unit £1 Peronis wont change price nor will the price of your bottle of wine - unless you currently buy stuff for less than £4.

 

There is also proposal to end BOGOF, 3 for the price of 2 ect offers on any drink. Therefore my 2 for £8 Peroni will have to be sold seperately. Tesco's often run BOGOF offers on cans and bottles. As for wine, there are bottles of wine for less than £4. Surely a minimum wage worker is entittles to a bottle of cheap plonk with his Mrs.

 

But I go back to the principle. It is not for Government to tell shop keepers how much they should sell a legal product for , once they have set the tax. What about booze from abroad, how does charging X amount per unit fit in with the EU, and the free market principle. Are they going to charge us duty when we arrive at Dover?

 

What will be next, banning all you can eat buffet's?

Edited 28 November, 2012 by Lord Duckhunter

[View From The Top]

If it means sh.ite like White Lightening and super strength lager is forced out of the marketplace then great.

 

If it means I can't get good deals on ale at Xmas and the like then boll.oxs.

 

I do, however, accept that something has to be done as booze abuse clearly is a huge issue around the country.

 

For the record I no longer use pubs as they are too expensive and usually just have a couple of bottles of beer at the weekend.

[Wade Garrett]

I don't drink any of that cheap sh*t anyway.

 

It's a good idea if it means the average p*sshead can buy less booze with his giro, and not make a total f*cking nuisance of himself among people that drink sensibly. F*cking smelly c*nts.

[alpine_saint]

You can all stop getting yer knickers in a twist.

 

The EU have told the government that minimum booze pricing would be illegal anyway.

[Viking Warrior]

I really dont think this is going to curb binge drinking . Let alone stop folk becoming alcoholics . It's not a Tory initiative as some suggest. It's a labour initiative and up here by king Alex . It is a tax however it is dressed up . It like fags once its added on then its easy for respective governments will increase the rate per unit to get more tax into the coffers . Using the concept of improving health . Millions are still smoking and millions will continue to be hard line drinkers . If its not a tax now it soon will be

[pap]

You can all stop getting yer knickers in a twist.

 

The EU have told the government that minimum booze pricing would be illegal anyway.

 

What if I like my knickers in a twist?

 

What if it's strangely liberating?

[alpine_saint]

What if I like my knickers in a twist?

 

What if it's strangely liberating?

 

I am sure there are other web sites out there more suitable for such tastes..

[Big Bad Bob]

You can all stop getting yer knickers in a twist.

 

The EU have told the government that minimum booze pricing would be illegal anyway.

 

Nah, it's being challenged as a restraint on free trade

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-20533189

 

It believed the move could restrict imports of foreign alcohol.

 

EC general secretary Catherine Day said: "The commission is fully aware of the importance of reduction of alcohol consumption among the population as a whole, and in particular among the harmful drinkers.

 

"The commission further acknowledges that the measure proposed is within member states' competence and, from a public health point of view, within the scope of the goals and objectives of the EU strategy to support member states in reducing alcohol-related harm.

 

"However, the measure at issue raises doubts as to its compatibility with the principle of proportionality."

 

Ms Day said an "increase of excise duty appears to be a better option to reach the goals sought" and suggested "other additional measures which the Scottish government could adopt"

 

So, don't set a minimum price but increase excise duty (tax) instead? Eh

[Frank's cousin]

How will increasing the price not effect a sensible drinker like me?

 

If it's a health issue, then what is the differance between that and obesity, is anyone suggesting putting the price of burgers or chips up. If it's a public order issue, then let's ensure the laws are enforced. Serving someone who is clearly drunk is against the law, as is anti social behaviour and drunk and disorderly.

 

If you make Tesco increase the price that they have to charge for their drinks, surely you increase their margin. So instead of dealing with people breaking the law we intend to increase the price that everyone pays, including sensible drinkers on low wages.We then pour more money into the large supermarket chains coffers. Strange sort of redistrubution of wealth if you ask me.

 

I agrred with both your posts, but would add that there is some rational IF the minimum price means more folk say sod the supermarkets and go to the pub - saving the nations heritage in some way... too may pubs closeing every week as they imply cant compete with the cheap supermarket booze?