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News
Battle over cross-border booze
With Scotland about to introduce minimum alcohol pricing, an English council is arguing over whether to cash in on the changes by promoting the availability of cheap alcohol to attract Scots tourists.
The Labour Group on Northumberland County Council said the council would be missing out on a “golden opportunity” to boost tourism, suggesting that funds should be set aside for a specific advertising campaign.
However, Conservative councillors have criticised the comments as irresponsible.
Paul Wheelhouse, an SNP Member of the Scottish Parliament, said today: “Northumberland is a wonderful part of England, rich in historical provenance and blessed with natural beauty that would attract any visitor. It would be far better for councillors to promote that than to think cut price booze deals are what will bring Scots tourists across the border.”
The Scottish government is pressing ahead with legislation to impose a minimum unit price for alcohol of 50p, which is expected to come into force next April. The legislation is aimed at cutting levels of binge drinking in Scotland. The UK government is also consulting on the idea, but would not impose legislation for several years.
Opponents to minimum pricing have already highlighted the potential for cross-border increases in alcohol purchasing. The Scottish Grocers’ Federation has already said that Scottish shops close to the English border are seeing a fall in alcohol sales, following an earlier ban on multi-buy discounts on alcohol.
They never learn, do they? Remember the southbound cross-border shopping in Ireland when the Irish Punt was low? And the reverse when the Euro was high? It’s just another example of the fact that the only thing we learn from history is that nobody learns from history. Go Northumberland! Mind you, if Scotland does go independent and they set up shops selling duty-free whisky on the border I may move to Berwick-upon-Tweed.
All’s fair in the Euro-economy – so we are told.
People will always buy cheaper alcohol when its available – you should see the number of ferry boats arriving in Tallinn (Estonia), with northern europeans collecting cars full of drinks…..
As we are highly taxed in the UK and with this added burden, surely the Scottish public has the right to visit and buy wherever they wish within the EU.
Will we see customs officers checking traffic across the border asking for proof that the van of drinks you are driving will be for personal consumption ??
Will we need a new ‘sticker’ for spirits sold in the England and Wales vs those sold in Scotland?? –
I get many touristic promotions from Carrefour and Pidou in Calais in my mailbox offering cheaper drinks and encouraging me to travel there and stock up.
I get hotels, ferry companies and eurotunnel all promoting a short stop over – so please Northumberland promote yourselves as a destination and boost your local economy.
Get smart otherwise these shoppers could go elsewhere in Europe and spend thier hard earned cash in another country.
Cheers, R