Early day Motion 495 states: “That this House believes that the substantial price differential between alcohol sold in pubs and that sold in the off-trade is exacerbating the problem of binge drinking; continues to support the pub trade’s efforts to curb irresponsible drinking and promotions; and urges supermarkets and off-licences to follow the example of pubs and act to end irresponsible drinks promotions and agree not to use alcohol as a loss leader on their premises.

In a submission to the Competition Commission Groceries Inquiry an un-named convenience retail company with over 100 UK branches provided evidence that ASDA were selling 2 cases of Fosters and/or Carlsberg  lager (each case containing 20 bottles of 440ml) for £16 or 40p a bottle. The company said that the usual price of a single can of standard strength lager in the UK is between 95 and 99p. It stated that Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s were using similar pricing policies.

In a letter of 30 January to Dr Stoate, the British Retail Consortium said: “Customers are buying multibuy items, not individual units therefore the reality is very different from the perception that a consumer can buy a can a lager for a small amount of change – in actual fact to get that price unit, the customer would have to spend significantly more money in one go.”

20% of men and 10% of women drink more than double the daily limit in one session (binge drinking) at least once in the last week.

37% of 16 to 24 year old men and 27% of 16 to 24 year old women binge drink regularly.

Between 1988 and 2000 the number of women consuming over 14 units increased by 70%.

Approximately one in four 16 to 74 year olds are hazardous drinkers (i.e. have experienced immediate problems - such as loss of memory, injuries or failure to do what is expected of them - after a nights drinking). Among 16 to 24 year olds, this figure rises to 42%.   

11 to 15 year olds who drink alcohol consumed nearly twice as much in 2001 (9.8 units a week) as they did in 1990 (5.3 units a week).