Alcohol industry left to defend drinks promotions
Alcohol retailers and producers are fighting a battle over the misuse of alcohol, as the Government puts pressure on the industry to curb irresponsible marketing.
MP’s from the Health Select Committee quizzed representatives from both the on and off trade, on supermarket, pub and bar promotions, as part of a wider enquiry in to alcohol misuse.
When asked about the number and prominence of in-store promotions and their role in the irresponsible consumption of alcohol, David North, community and government director at Tesco said that promotions do not lead to further consumption.
North added that research conducted by Tesco found that customers buying alcohol on promotion do not by the same alcohol again for a couple of weeks, suggesting, “customers use promotions to stock up, not to consume more.”
Labour MP, Stephen Hesford questioned whether their contributions as a proportion of marketing budgets is “derisory,” which both North and Jeremy Blood, managing director of Scottish and Newcastle defended saying their contributions to industry funded responsible drinking site the Drinkaware Trust.
Blood, who estimated that S&N’s contribution is between £1-£2 million against a marketing budget of about £50 million, says he is “comfortable” with that amount especially considering the amount the Treasury receives from the industry in excise duty.
North estimated that Tesco contribute about £750,000 to the Trust and further support the scheme by providing health information at point of sale while encouraging staff to “think 25″ when serving young people.
Research conducted in 2008 by Dr Petra Meir from the University of Sheffield, which linked the price of alcohol and consumption was also presented to the committee.
North says that Tesco is willing to play an “active and constructive role” in Government-led discussions with the industry on the role of price, although both Blood and Jeremy Beadles, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, said that minimum pricing would penalise the majority of responsible drinkers while having little effect on alcohol misuse.
The debate led on May 14th comes a day after the Government launched plans for mandatory code which forces supermarkets to display information on the health impacts of alcohol and a crackdown on “irresponsible” on-trade promotions, although it confirmed it is not planning to introduce a minimum per price unit.
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