lochside bar articles/Health/Mandatory sale of alcohol code what changes would it bring
Introduction
The days of the 'All you can drink' promotion could well be numbered.
The Government has proposed a mandatory sale of alcohol code that would restrict bars, clubs and pubs from offering drinkers cut price alcohol promotions such as ‘All you can drink’ and ‘ladies drink for free’.
Currently open for public consultation, the proposed code is the Government’s answer for reducing the health and crime problems associated with binge drinking that are estimated to cost the UK £13 billion a year.
It’s not just bars, clubs and pubs that would have to change their ways as a result of the mandatory code; promotions in supermarkets and other retailers that encourage shoppers to buy large quantities of alcohol to get a discount would also be curbed.
Other measures
While the death of the cut price drinks promotion would be the most noticeable result of the code, it would also mean that bars, clubs and pubs would have to offer customers the choice of smaller alcohol measures, such as 125ml wine glasses and single spirit shots. They would also, by law, have to make free glasses of tap water readily available for their customers.
So what would happen to venues and retailers that don’t take any notice of the code? The Government is proposing a £20,000 fine, or in the case of landlords the loss of their license or six months in prison.
Getting the message across
The code will also support the sensible drinking messages that Drinkaware and the Wine and Spirit Trade Association provide supermarkets and other retailers with to place next to alcohol price information.
One thing that we won’t see in the code is the minimum pricing of alcohol, previously recommended by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO). His recommendation was for alcohol to be sold at a minimum price of 50p per alcohol unit. The Prime Minister decided against this because he believed it would, “punish the vast majority of responsible drinkers.”
Visit the Home Office website to view and have your say on the Government’s ‘Safe. Sensible. Social: Selling Alcohol Responsibly’ consultation.
Created on Jun 2, 2009
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