Tesco backs cheap alcohol limits

Supermarket giant Tesco has agreed to work with the government on possible legalisation that would limit its ability to sell cut price alcohol.

The announcement comes after the British Medical Association, which says cut-price offers fuel binge drinking, has said it wants tougher restrictions on how alcohol is sold. Tesco says ministers must take the lead because competition laws stop retailers from artificially raising prices.

The UK's biggest retailer says it would be "commercial suicide" to act alone. And it said it was too simplistic to blame price alone for binge drinking and other alcohol-related problems. However, the supermarket giant said it was prepared to take an active role in discussions about possible legislation on pricing and promotions.

Fellow blogger Chritian Quoter disagreed with the British Medical Association by saying “People who want to get drunk will do so. You cannot price them out of it without penalising the vast majority who are responsible consumers. Enforcing the laws on drunken disorderly behaviour is the remedy not curbs on sales, fiscal or otherwise. My experience is that the cheapest beer is not from Tesco at all.”

In December, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: "It's not right that we still have three for two, or buy 3 bottles for £10 deals in our off-sales and supermarkets encouraging people to buy and drink more than they had intended.”