Guernsey Press

Pubs say cheap supermarket alcohol drives binge drinking

PUBS have backed calls for an investigation into minimum alcohol pricing, warning that problems are often caused by 'cheap booze' in shops and 'pre-loading'.

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It follows the release of an independent report this week, commissioned by the Guernsey Alcohol Advisory Service, which said misuse cost Guernsey up to £21.8m. last year.

The report came with nine recommendations, which included investigations into increasing the minimum price of alcohol to both 'reflect costs to society and act as a deterrent against heavy use'.

Peter Leigh, licensee of the Hampshire Lodge pub, said the lack of regulation of supermarkets meant it was too easy to get alcohol for too low a price.

'Supermarkets can sell alcohol cheaper than we can buy it from our wholesalers, which means that people do a lot more drinking at home than at pubs now.

'If your need? is alcohol, you go to where it is cheapest, and that is the supermarkets,' he said.

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