This article was first posted on Drinkuary
One interesting thing about the proposed legislation both minimum pricing and the bans on multi-buys is it’s all been tried before so we can look at other countries to get a rough idea of how well it’s gone.
Starting really close to home over in Scotland it seems that banning multi-buys isn’t working terribly well. A year in retailers have largely responded by stopping selling single packs, so no more buying a single can of beer now you have to buy a 4+ pack.
Sid Ali of Nisa Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire, said: “We took single cans out of business so we can sell multipacks at any price. It has helped us rationalise and tidy up the the fixture, it’s had a positive effect.”
It’s not all plain sailing mind as:
But Sid added that spirits had “taken a hammering” as Tesco had reduced its prices to accommodate multi buys.
Which probably explains why there’s so much fake vodka about. Showing yet again that as prohibition ramps up the dangers to public health increase as the criminal fraternity starts getting more involved.
Looking slightly further afield minimum pricing in Russia really hasn’t worked well – so can anyone think of a good reason why it might in the UK? That’s of course even if the EU changes it’s mind and decides it is legal after all.
People are still talking about unforeseen consequences to the proposed legislation, which seems odd as if they’re being discussed then I’d have though they were foreseen consequences. As a final thought, given the recent proposals for controls on unhealthy foods it seems far to assume that both food and drink control will stick to the same greasy slope down which smoking has already slid so far.
