Bibendum boss slams minimum pricing plans

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Published on Thursday, 07 February 2013 15:14

Written by Elinor Zuke

Michael Saunders has added his voice to the opposition to minimum unit pricing, even though it wouldn't have an immediate impact on Bibendum.

 

"Once the legislation is in place, what's to say it won't be £1 or £2 per unit in the future? I don't believe 45p will make any difference to the antisocial behaviour in town centres it's designed to address, so they'll start to raise the price," he warned.

 

"I have a slight philosophical belief that legislation isn't the way to change behaviour," he added.
Saunders pointed out that in Scotland alcohol volume sales fell at the same rate as English volume sales after the multibuy ban was introduced north of the border in October 2011. "It had absolutely no impact on consumption," he said.

 

Bibendum supports responsible drinking campaigns and Saunders said the 250ml serving was an "outrage", which also doesn't make sense from the serve point of view as the serving is too large for a glass of white wine to stay cold until the end.

 

Consultation on the 45p per unit minimum price proposed in the government's Alcohol Strategy in England and Wales closed yesterday.