Binge-drinking

(27 February 2008 16:10)

No sooner had the air cleared from the smoking ban than the dangers of alcohol reared its head. Overall levels of alcohol consumption by the general public have increased rapidly over the past 10 years as we all drink more wine, spirits and alco-pops (but we all drink less beer) and the term binge-drinking has entered the national vocabulary.

Anyone who sells alcohol for a living cannot escape the current and heated debate about the way alcohol is retailed in this country and the Government is facing a squeeze on two fronts.

Firstly the past year has seen the rise of the ‘new temperance movement’ (in the words of British Beer & Pub Association chairman Michael Turner). November 2007 saw the launch of the Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA), a lobby group comprising of 21 health and temperance organisations. Their chief argument is a 10% rise in alcohol duty in the next Budget.

Article continues below

The AHA has received the support of the British Medical Association (BMA). It too has called on the Government to raise duty on alcohol as part of wide ranging reforms to reduce the amount of alcohol Britain’s drink – which it claims has reached ‘epidemic’ proportions.

If the new temperance movement gets its way pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels will all have to raise the prices of the drinks they sell. Furthermore the liberal opening hours of the Licensing Act (2003) could be amended or even scrapped if the Government is persuaded by the lobbyists. After the upheaval of the introduction of new licensing laws further stipulations to any license – from the density of licensed premises to public health accountability for licensees – will create further headaches for license holders still struggling to get to grips with the act.

Squeezing the Government on the opposite side is the hospitality and drinks industries. The pub trade in particular is coming to terms with the perfect storm of the smoking ban, the credit crunch and rising food and utility costs. Beer sales are in persistent decline as customers look to by cheap beer from supermarkets – who often sell alcohol as a loss leader without raising the ire of the Competition Commission.

On-trade lobby groups including the BBPA, Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) and the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) are all asking for a freeze in beer duties in this years Budget (12 March), and in Camra’s case even a duty reduction.

Stabilising beer prices should attract customers back into struggling pubs – but given the inexorable rise of binge-drinking will the Government give this lifeline to British pubs?