Post Scripts ...

The Publican's Morning Advertiser reports on a letter to the Telegraph from some of the "leading lights" in the UK pub and brewing industries supporting Minimum Pricing for alcohol

Here's the full text of the letter

SIR – We urge the Government to stick to its plans to introduce a minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol, to address the costs to society of irresponsible alcohol sale and consumption, and to encourage drinkers back into pubs and clubs.

The important role of pubs in communities across the country is often under threat from the easy availability of excessively cheap packaged alcohol.

The Government has public support. In a recent YouGov survey the majority said the Government was right to try to reduce the amount of cheap alcohol sold in shops.

Yet at the same time, the Government’s plans are being undermined by some who seek to distort the public’s understanding of how MUP would work. For example, 46 per cent wrongly believe MUP would increase the price of alcohol in pubs.
MUP will not solve all alcohol-related ills, but it will encourage responsible drinking.

The recent move to scrap the beer duty escalator and cut duty by 1p per pint is also welcome, in discouraging consumption of higher-alcohol products – drunk mainly at home – such as spirits, wine and strong ciders and beers.

By introducing MUP, the Prime Minister has a great opportunity to save lives, to save money and to protect British pubs.

Rooney Anand Chief Executive, Greene King

Stephen Glancey Group Chief Executive Officer, C&C

Mike Benner Chief Executive, CAMRA

William Lees-Jones Managing Director, JW Lees Brewery

Stuart Bateman Managing Director, Bateman’s Brewery

Steve Richards Chief Executive Officer, Novus Leisure

Peter Marks Chief Executive, Luminar

Keith Bott Managing Director, Titanic Brewery

Jonathan Barker Managing Director, Mitchell’s of Lancaster

Tony Brookes Managing Director, Head of Steam

Michael Kheng Director, Kurnia Licensing Consultants

p.s. you'll need to set the level at over £1 a unit to make a difference to most pubs

p.p.s. you'll also have to explain to the majority of UK consumers why you've handed the likes of Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury, Co-Op, Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose etc a multi-billion pound windfall at their expense

p.p.p.s. you'll need to set aside a considerable "fighting fund" for all the government lawyers to defend your action in the UK and European Courts

p.p.p.p.s. or you could just consider applying existing legislation (i.e. The Licensing Act 2003) to the "off-trade" and prevent them from running irresponsible drinks promotions the same way you do with the "on-trade"

Oh, OK then, the post scripts are mine ...