Alcohol: We need effective action, not measures which do more harm than good

From 1st October 2011, retailers in Scotland cannot offer discounts on multiple bottles of alcohol, yet as we move towards this date some suppliers are using loopholes to get around the new laws, by processing online sales in warehouses based south of the border.

Other retailers are looking at removing the quantity discounts and advertising, but will instead just sell the same bottles of alcohol for whatever the combined discount price was to begin with.

Murdo Fraser MSP, Scottish Conservative Health Spokesperson, said:

"We all support measures that get to grips with Scotland's drink problem but we need to be aware of loopholes in legislation. This move by the supermarkets demonstrates precisely the difficulties with the SNP's plans for blanket minimum pricing of alcohol, plans which will easily be got around by internet sales.

"We need real effective action, such as a ban on the sales of alcohol below cost price applied across the UK, rather than ill-thought out measures which may do more harm than good."

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