Scores of drinks companies across beer, wine, spirits and cider have signed an open letter to the Scottish government, to voice opposition to a potential…
Scores of drinks companies across beer, wine, spirits and cider have signed an open letter to the Scottish government, to voice opposition to a potential…
The government has declared it has no plans to grant local licensing authorities the power to ban “super-strength” alcohol across stores in their areas. It also has no plans to introduce a ban on multibuy promotions on alcohol in England and Wales after concluding it would not be an effective means of restricting consumption. A select committee has conducted post-legislative scrutiny…
Researchers at Sheffield University have argued that putting a minimum unit price of 45p on alcohol would be 50 times more effective than the current ban on below-cost selling. The university’s findings were used as evidence by the government when it originally proposed minimum unit pricing, but its research methods were criticised. The government then decided to scrap plans for minimum unit pricing, instead…
It’s clear that ordinary retailers across the country are coming under great pressure to remove “super-strength” beers and ciders from their shelves. The success and legality of Reducing the Strength-style schemes rely on licensees voluntarily imposing the ban on themselves. And, while many might agree with the intentions of the measure, commercially they may be reluctant to comply – especially while there are other local…
The Portman Group has banned Chicago drinks maker Phusion Projects from marketing its Four Loko RTD brand in the UK. The body received three complaints about the brand, saying that “Loko” sounds like “loco”, the Spanish word for “crazy” or “mad”. “The independent complaints panel considered that the Oxford English Dictionary definition of ‘loco’, listed as ‘crazy, or off one’s head’, was problematic when used…
Suppliers have warned they may take action against councils for breaking competition law by pushing retailers to strip shelves of premium beer and cider. Nigel McNally, managing director of Brookfield Drinks, which markets 9% abv Kestrel Super lager and 7.5% Diamond White cider, said local authorities could be bankrupted by the compensation they would be forced to pay out if they lost. Hundreds of off-licences,…
Tobacco manufacturers are fighting EU plans which would ban menthol and slimline cigarettes, all packs of 10 and limit sales of rolling tobacco to 40g pouches. Opponents of the proposals say they will also impose restrictions on the size and shape of cigarette packs and bigger health warnings. The plans for rolling tobacco would have significant impact in the UK, where 77% of sales are…
Triumphant sports people bouncing up and down in front of hoardings with the names of beer brands on them could soon be a thing of the past. So too could spirit-branded tents masquerading as cocktail bars-cum-nightclubs at music festivals. Even staid, middle-aged affairs such as jazz and literary festivals could find themselves light of a benevolent drinks sponsor or two if Alcohol Concern gets its way.
