Alcohol: Pricing

Lord Naseby Excerpts

Monday 29th October 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

The noble Baroness raises an interesting question, which arose in the programme: a lot of people drink because they are lonely. The Government’s alcohol strategy is part of a broader strategy that needs to take into account the social support that is given to older people and indeed, if I may also say so, the rehabilitation of people who have had a lifetime of drinking to excess.

[Lord Naseby]

As the BMA consistently supports the moderate consumption of red wine, how will this measure affect those retailers who normally sell by the case, particularly, though not exclusively, in the wine trade, the unit price thereby quite often being considerably below the normal price of a single bottle, whether that be wine or beer?

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

I can reassure the noble Lord that the consultation is very much aware of that issue.