MPs find ban on cheap wine deals hard to swallow as proposal 'punishes responsible middle class'

By Mail On Sunday Reporter

PUBLISHED: 19:39 EST, 20 October 2012 | UPDATED: 19:41 EST, 20 October 2012


Government proposals to outlaw cut-price wine have been met by a fierce backlash from MPs.

Major supermarkets including Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose offer discounts of up to  25 per cent when buying six bottles of wine.

Ministers believe this tempts shoppers to drink too much and plan to ban the bulk-buy offers.

The changes may face a legal challenge from drinks manufacturers and the European Commission on the grounds of breaching European free trade laws

The changes may face a legal challenge from drinks manufacturers and the European Commission on the grounds of breaching European free trade laws

Others, including medical experts, are pushing for an even higher minimum price such as 50 per unit. Scotland has already passed legislation at that price.

But critics claim this will hit responsible adults who buy a few bottles of wine at the weekend, rather than anti-social drinkers.

 

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Tory MP Andrew Selous said: ‘This sounds like a very blunt instrument that could hit responsible middle-class people.’

Fellow Tory David Davies said: ‘The danger is punishing everyone instead of targeting people who are causing the problem.’

In addition to a ban on discounts for multiple-bottle purchases, the Government is also said to be considering a minimum price of 40p per unit of alcohol.

Tory David Davies said: ¿The danger is punishing everyone instead of targeting people who are causing the problem'

Tory David Davies said: ¿The danger is punishing everyone instead of targeting people who are causing the problem'

The Home Office says it would lead to 50,000 fewer crimes and 900 fewer alcohol-related deaths per year by 2020.

David Cameron is said to be personally committed to the plans, hoping they will combat the drain on the NHS caused by alcohol-related conditions.

He is thought to be meeting Home Office ministers this week to discuss the proposals.

The changes may face a legal challenge from drinks manufacturers and the European Commission on the grounds of breaching European free trade laws.

The Government said that it had no immediate plans to publish proposals.

The proposals is unlikely to affect wine clubs, but it is unknown how retailers who specialise in bulk wine deals,such as Majestic, would be affected.

 
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Is Dave suggesting that when he fancies a bottle of wine of an evening he nips out to the local off license and buys a bottle? Or is it more likely that at home in the Cotswolds, at number ten and at Chequers, wine is delivered by the case as is at the HoC?

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Is Dave suggesting that when he fancies a bottle of wine of an evening he nips out to the local off license and buys a bottle? Or is it more likely that at home in the Cotswolds, at number ten and at Chequers, wine is delivered by the case as is at the HoC?

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should be on the strong cans of lager and cider as thats what the young ones drink, as its cheap and they get blotto quickly

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you do know that mp's get subsidized tax free wine in bulk in a warehouse just for them don't you ........................

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Yet more nanny-state proposals. What next are they going to monitor how much salt I sprinkle on my chips or ban multi-bags of crisp, biscuits etc.?

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The answer is simple, the NHS should start charging people who need treatment for over indulgence in alcohol. If they can afford the booze then they can afford the treatment. Say, for example, a nominal £25 charge.

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Is this part of Cameron's new get tough on crime policy? Punish the pensioners, punish the middle classes, punish the responsible. All laws are consential, make them silly enough and everyone will break them. Remember the dog licence fiasco? The Governments job is to govern the country, not run the everyday minutiae of peoples lives.

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What about the responsible working classes? I hate to break it to you but they're not all dole-bludging alchos.

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Benefits rise with inflation, other incomes do not. So as always the sensible marority are punished in a futile attempt to reign in the irresponsible. What a bunch of pratts, and they wonder why no one bothers to vote!

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if they are worried about the drain on the nhs stop treating people who have not made any contribution to it

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