Labour Plan to entice Scots booze cruisers

One of the potential problems caused by political devolution is that the policies of minimum unit pricing of alcohol are not fully aligned north and south of the border, with the result that, at least for a time, alcohol will be significantly cheaper in England than in Scotland.

An early indication of the complications to which this could give rise were given when members of the Labour group on Northumberland County Council suggested the authority should grasp the opportunity provided by MUP in Scotland from April 2013 to attract Scots drinkers to alcohol retailers in Northumberland. The Labour group said they wanted to see an advertising campaign prepared to entice Scottish drinkers. As reported in the Daily Telegraph, Northumberland County Council’s Labour group economic spokeswoman Susan Davey said: “By not setting aside an adequate advertising budget to promote travel and shopping in Northumberland to the Scots, the county may miss out on this golden opportunity. Shops in Berwick, Alnwick and Morpeth with easy access to the A1 should be preparing to accept a huge increase in trade but I expect, without an advertising campaign, Carlisle with its easy motorway access will win this race.”

However, Labour’s plan was condemned as irresponsible by Alnwick’s Conservative county councillor Gordon Castle. “We want to promote Alnwick, we want Scottish tourists, but we don’t want booze tourists,” he said. “As responsible councillors, we are supposed to be promoting the town for its visitor attractions.”

Mr Castle thought any crossborder increase in alcohol sales would benefit national supermarkets, not local independent stores.

“Frankly, the supermarkets are doing very nicely anyway,” he said. “This is not going to help our high street.”