Jersey will introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol sold off-trade in what the Jersey Hospitality Association is calling its first big win of 2020. JHA CEO Simon Soar explains…
‘There is no doubt that the States of Jersey’s decision to increase excise duties on alcohol came as a huge blow to us last year. We’d spent a lot of time engaging politicians, trying to put forward our case and suggest alternatives that wouldn’t devastate the island’s hospitality industry. Ultimately, the decision didn’t go our way.
‘But we finally feel like our concerns have been heard thanks to a decision by the licensing assembly, who has passed minimum unit pricing (MUP) as a condition of licensing for off-trade markets.
‘Minimum pricing was something we lobbied the States to introduce not only because it has it been effective in reducing alcohol consumption in other jurisdictions, but it evens the playing field between on and off-trade sellers.’
Why is MUP good for the hospitality industry?
‘Since 2000, restaurants and bars have been heavily restricted with regards to how we sell and promote alcohol. We can’t run offers or do anything that could be seen to encourage consumption. The result of this, and price hikes, has been fewer people going out to drink and more people making the most of supermarket offers and drinking at home. Home is an unregulated environment, which can often lead to higher consumption.
‘Since introducing MUP in Scotland, the country has seen public alcohol consumption decrease, which has obvious health benefits for its communities. We argued to the States that MUP would have the same impact in Jersey and be more effective than a raise in duty.
‘Minimum pricing will mean supermarkets and off-trade markets will no longer be able to promote and sell booze below a certain price per alcoholic unit, and people will no longer be encouraged to drink so much at home.
‘This is an issue that we’ve had meetings with the Solicitor-General about. We sent out surveys to our members, and we’ve been heavily involved in campaigning for it. For it to pass feels like a win for the hospitality industry. What a way to start the new year.’
