In its submission to the government’s consultation on the Alcohol Strategy, the WSTA accuses the government of failing to make a realistic assessment of the wider impacts of increasing the cost of alcohol on the economy and crime rates.
The trade body has raised concerns that proposals for a minimum unit price of alcohol will lead to an increase in bootleg alcohol sales, fake alcohol production, theft and cross-border sales.
A 50p minimum unit price would set a minimum price of £4.88 for a bottle of wine in the UK, compared to around £1.89 in France, it is feared that consumers could turn their backs on UK retailers in favour of cheaper prices across the Channel.
Increasing alcohol prices could risks pushing alcohol further into the hands of unregulated sellers which could increase health risks to consumers. The WSTA has warned that, as the cost of alcohol rises, consumers will look for cheaper options, which is likely to bolster the bootlegging of alcohol and the ‘White Van Trade’, including the increased production of self-brewed alcohol for sale and fake alcohol products.
The WSTA has also raised concerns about the impact increased alcohol prices could have on retail theft. During Christmas 2012 alone, retail theft in the UK grew 3.4% compared to the same time the previous year, leading to estimated losses of £999.7m for British businesses.
Source: WSTA
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