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Tesco accused over cut price drink offers

Published:  06 January, 2009

Tesco is reported to be facing two official investigations over the way it has been running recent discounted drink offers.

Trading Standards is said to be looking into claims brought by Labour MP, Rosie Cooper, that it is breaking new laws by runnning drink offers when there is not enough stock to meet demand.

In a separate but linked investigation the Advertising Standards Authority is reportedly looking into claims that Tesco has broken advertising rules by continuing to promote the offers at the front of store when there is no stock to sell.

The claims, made in today's Independent newspaper, have both been strongly refuted by Tesco which has denied deliberately promoting offers it does not have enough stock to fulfill.

Under the Unfair Consumer Practice Directive, which came into force in May last year, retailers cannot advertise goods for which they have insufficient stock - known as " bait advertising".

Rosie Cooper MP made the complaint after being unable to buy a one-litre bottle of Baileys at three separate stores in Liverpool which had been advertised for £8.

Liverpool Trading Standard Office is looking into her complaint.

Tesco told the Independent: "As you would expect in the run-up to Christmas, these promotions were extremely popular with customers. Additional supplies were ordered in as quickly as possible."

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