Scotland takes action over supermarket alcohol pricing

Did we not tell you it would be booze next?

Scotland takes action over supermarket alcohol pricing
http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?storycode=56825
By Michelle Perrett

The Executive is to ban a range of alcohol promotions in the off-trade under the Licensing Act

Supermarkets and off-licences are to face a ban on alcohol promotions by the Scottish Executive.

Cabinet Secretary Kenny MacAskill has announced that under the new Licensing Act a range of alcohol promotions including the placement of alcohol such beer being displayed with barbeques as well as promotions that provide alcohol free or at a reduced price will be banned.

He told delegates at a Alcohol Focus Scotland Licensing Conference: “There is something in a country deluged by rain and surrounded by water that a bottle of cider or beer can be bought for less than a bottle of water.

"I will be bringing forward regulations which will require premises to have separate alcohol display areas.


"I will expect tough action to be taken by the Licensing Board to determine whether the premises should continue to reap the benefits of retailing alcohol."


Alcohol Placement:

No cross merchandising
No beer beside barbeque charcoal
No wine in the pizza counter
No gin and tonic in the chiller cabinet alongside the lunchtime sandwiches
Alcohol Pricing:

Ban “buy Two get one free”
Ban £10 cases of beer being sold for £20 for 3 cases
Ban 12 bottles for the price of 10
This will mean that a case of 24 cans will need to cost the same as buying 24 individual cans