Scottish drinks retailers exasperated over new promo rules

Published: 30 September, 2011

Changes to rules governing the promotion of alcohol have exasperated operators in Scotland as licensing boards have failed to offer guidance on what is permitted.

The new rules, which take effect tomorrow, October 1, ban discount multi-buy offers, putting a stop to buy one get one free, 3 for 2, 5 for 4 or cheapest free, 3 bottles for £10 or buy 6, get 20% off.

In addition, if a store sells one can or bottle for £1, a six-pack equivalent must be priced £6.

Promotions about alcohol will not be permitted outside the alcohol section and it is unclear how meal deals, such as a three course meal plus a bottle of wine for a fixed price, will be handled. No alcohol can be merchandised alongside food, and leaflets are only permitted if less than 50% of content is about wine. There is also confusion over whether shelf barkers communicating meal deals would be viewed as an alcohol promotion, as this would be at the discretion of individual licensing officers.

A ban on alcohol promotions within 200m of premises could impact on where delivery vans are able to park.

Giles Cooke MW, wine development director at Alliance wine, summed up the new rules. "Like most things connected to Scottish government legislation; the objectives, detail and impact are unclear."

Jack Cummins, senior partner at Glasgow's Hill Brown Licensing, said he was exasperated by the legislation. "People don't come to me for maybes, they want advice that gives them a fairly firm degree of confidence about what they can and can't do. But when it's down to an individual licensing officer, how can I possibly - other than through the use of psychic powers - do that?"

Meanwhile Wood Winters, which runs two wine shops in Scotland, tweeted: "Grab it while you can! Last 2 days of a six-pack price! From Saturday irresponsible and illegal."

WSTA chief executive Jeremy Beadles said: "We fear that consumers are unaware of the changes and will be surprised to find that many of the offers they take for granted in store will no longer be available from October 1."

The Scottish Wholesalers Association and the Scottish Grocers Federation have compiled guidance for retailers on the legislation at alcoholcompliancescotland.co.uk.

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