Supermarket lager 'cheaper than water'

January 9, 2007: The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is calling for a stop to irresponsible alcohol promotion as supermarkets sell lager for just 5p more than a pint of bottled water.

A survey by CAMRA reveals that in some supermarkets Fosters and Carlsberg are available for the equivalent of just 54p a pint — or 16p before tax. CAMRA, MPs, the trade press and pub industry chiefs are calling for urgent action to prevent promotions that serve to exacerbate the problem of binge drinking.

	PILE IT HIGH, SELL IT CHEAP
	n Sainsbury’s IS selling Carling for 54p a pint (£9.99 for 24x440ml cans). The excise duty on a 4% beer is around 30p, and VAT is 8p. nMorrisons sells Grolsch at £16 for 40x300ml bottles. (76p a pint). nTesco is selling Budweiser at £9.98 for 20x300ml (95p a pint).

CAMRA chief executive Mike Benner said: “The ridiculous practice of the major supermarkets selling below cost for alcohol to out-price
each other is reckless, irresponsible and dangerous. To put it in perspective, some bottled water in the supermarket costs 49p a pint and water is not subject to excise duty as alcohol is.”

CAMRA believes that irresponsible drinks promotions in the off-trade are a major cause of binge-drinking incidents, yet it is licensed premises that suffer the fallout while supermarkets continue with impunity.

Mr Benner said: “Pubs often come under unjustified attack for encouraging binge drinking, yet the industry has committed itself to curb irresponsible drinking and cheap alcohol promotions in recent years. This hard work is undermined by supermarkets selling enormous quantities of alcohol at prices that simply cannot be justified.

“An 18-year-old is free to take advantage of these ludicrous beer prices, walk out the supermarket door and then drink in a completely unsupervised and unsafe environment. Beer can be given by them to under-age drinkers who do not know their limits but pour premium-strength lager down their throats all night. This is in stark contrast to adults enjoying a drink in a pub which is regulated by law as to who they can and cannot serve.

“Something has to be done now to make supermarkets realise the damage these promotions can cause.”

MP John Grogan, of the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group, has tabled an Early Day Motion urging supermarkets and off-licenses to follow the example of pubs, act to end irresponsible drinks promotions, and not to use alcohol as a loss leader on their premises. CAMRA is urging consumers to lobby their MP to sign Early Day Motion 495 and make supermarkets take their social responsibilities more seriously. Forty-one MPs have signed the motion so far.

Mr Benner said: “These promotions are unsustainable, but while they are allowed to continue unchecked they are doing irreparable damage to the licensed trade. A pub is still the best place to enjoy a sociable and sensible drink with friends.”

Early Day Motion 495 (tabled on January 2, 2007) was drafted by The Publican newspaper and states: “That this House believes that the substantial price differential between alcohol sold in pubs and that sold in the off-trade is exacerbating the problem of binge drinking; continues to support the pub trade's efforts to curb irresponsible drinking and promotions; and urges supermarkets and off-licences to follow the example of pubs and act to end irresponsible drinks promotions and agree not to use alcohol as a loss leader on their premises.”

In December 2006, Shepherd Neame brewery chief executive Jonathan Neame gave evidence at the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group’s inquiry into the future of community pubs, and blasted the supermarket promotions as “idiotic”.