Trade Diary
| 17 May 2012 | ||||
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Training and a tough approach to tackle alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in Great Yarmouth
A Community Alcohol Partnership scheme designed to crack down on under-age drinking and anti-social behaviour in Great Yarmouth was launched on Wednesday 11th April, at the same time as extra funding will be made available for the TS Warrior Naval Cadet Corps to give local youngsters the chance to develop their skills and find jobs.
Baroness Newlove, the Chairman of the Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) joined the Communities Secretary Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, local MP Brandon Lewis and Norfolk County Councillor, Harry Humphrey, to launch the CAP scheme. They also viewed first- hand the TS Warrior Naval Cadet Corps Scheme which, through volunteers, provides hands on experience, accredited learning sessions and certified courses to children and teenagers within Great Yarmouth to help them get jobs in the local maritime based industry.
As part of the overall scheme to tackle alcohol abuse, the CAP has given £10,000 of funding – combined with £5,000 from Great Yarmouth Borough Council, £5,000 from the Community Safety Partnership and £5,000 from Norfolk County Council Trading Standards – to a diversionary cadet scheme which offers training to help match skills to local industries in an area of high unemployment and where academic attainment at school leaving age has traditionally been low.
The scheme seeks to enter partnership with a range of local agencies, both voluntary and statutory, (set out below) to tackle both the anti-social behaviour nuisance of alcohol and to offer an alternative activity through the cadet training scheme.
Areas around the town centre, the sea front and St George’s Park will be the focus of action to tackle the nuisance created by young people – both over and under 18 – of drinking alcohol in public places, such as drink related litter and vandalism. In particular, the initiative seeks to address the problem of young people being able to procure alcohol through proxy purchasing and from home supplies which is believed to be a key part of the problem in the area. In addition, there are currently pockets of anti-social behaviour created by adult street drinking and the Great Yarmouth CAP will look at making this culturally unacceptable and diverting people to the necessary support agencies.
Seeking to bring a variety of agencies together, including local retailers, youth services, trading standards, police, schools, charities and other departments within Great Yarmouth Borough Council and Norfolk County Council, the CAP scheme will focus on three main elements, education, enforcement and public perception:
- Education – will target three groups. All local retailers will be offered free training by Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury about the sale of alcohol, particularly using the ‘challenge 25’ scheme; the Matthew Project, NORCAS and Crimestoppers will seek to reach young people in schools and youth clubs about the health effects of alcohol; adults will be approached through leaflets and information about the law relating to proxy purchasing pointing out that people can be prosecuted for buying alcohol on behalf of someone under the age of 18.
- Enforcement – following the training phase, tests will be made among retailers as to the robustness of their systems (with further advice offered where necessary); police and the ACSOs will patrol areas for under-age drinking with alcohol confiscated and parents informed; intoxicated young people will be taken home; young people with second offences will be invited to an alcohol workshop with their parent or guardian and a third offence may face prosecution. Proxy purchases will be punished with £80 on the spot fines or prosecuted.
- Public perception - a great deal of emphasis will be placed on community reporting, but will also include questionnaires (before and after the CAP launch), an assessment of police intelligence, crime reports and anti social behaviour reporting.
Baroness Newlove said: I have been delighted to see the tremendous work CAP schemes have done to help reduce the harm and anti-social behaviour associated with under-age drinking across the country. I am particularly pleased that in Great Yarmouth we are able to combine our efforts with an enormously worthwhile alternative offering young people the skills they need to get a good job and prosper in life. I feel strongly our young people need adult guidance as they mature, and giving them something to aspire to, which this scheme does.”
Brandon Lewis, MP said: “I’m pleased to see a tough approach to alcohol induced anti-social behaviour is being combined with a diversionary scheme for young people to get skills and training that could lead to a good local job. I would like to congratulate everyone who has been involved in setting up this fantastic scheme.”
Duncan Boyne, Chairman TS Warrior Cadets, said: “We are trying to encourage our young people to keep out of trouble and have something to look forward to in life. We’ve been trying for two years to raise the money and this will make a tremendous difference to the number of people we can help”.
WSTA response to Government's Alcohol Strategy
WSTA response to Government’s Alcohol Strategy
Responding to Government’s Alcohol Strategy, WSTA Interim Chief Executive Gavin Partington said:
“We welcome the Government’s recognition of the industry’s positive contribution through the Public Health Responsibility Deal to encourage responsible drinking. We oppose minimum unit pricing, and the proposed restrictions to promotions, which will adversely affect millions of consumers and businesses in the UK, while doing nothing to tackle the root causes of alcohol misuse.”
“A wide range of policies are required to address problem drinking in the UK, including improving education and information campaigns, and better enforcement of existing legislation.
“We welcome the endorsement of industry supported schemes, such as Community Alcohol Partnerships, which are, aimed at tackling alcohol misuse and helping to curb associated anti-social behaviour.
Minimum Unit Pricing:
“Minimum unit pricing will punish responsible consumers with higher prices. A 40p minimum unit price will impact only on the bottom 30% of households by income group - hitting the poor hardest and will do nothing to address the causes of alcohol mis-use.
“There is no evidence to prove that minimum unit pricing will tackle alcohol misuse - in fact the international evidence suggests that problem drinkers are least likely to be deterred by price rises.
“The public is entitled to have its say on a policy which will affect millions of consumers and businesses in the UK and which Government ministers have previously told Parliament they believe to be illegal.
Promotions restrictions:
“There is no compelling evidence that retailer promotions are causing alcohol misuse –indeed overall levels of alcohol consumption are falling. Government policy should be evidence based and there is no evidence that banning alcohol promotions will reduce alcohol mis-use.”
Removing 1 billion units by 2015:
“Our members are committed to tackling alcohol misuse through evidence based solutions. Today they have demonstrated that commitment by pledging to remove more than 1 billion units of alcohol from the market by 2015. This will have a significant impact on helping people to change their behaviour and to drink within the recommended guidelines”
Ends
Notes to editors
The WSTA is the UK organisation for the wine and spirit industry representing over 340 companies producing, importing, transporting and selling wines and spirits. We campaign to promote the industry's interests with governments at home and abroad. We work with our members to promote the responsible production, marketing and sale of alcohol.
For more information please contact Gavin Partington:
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7089 3876
Mob: +44 (0) 7966 014058
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wine and spirit sales down as consumers feel the pinch
5 March 2012
The latest WSTA Market Report shows overall sales of wine and spirits continuing to fall in shops, pubs, restaurants and clubs, as consumers continue to rein in their spending.
• Volume sales of wine in the off-trade were down 2% in the year to February 4th and shop sales of spirits were down 1%.
• In the on-trade sales of wine were down 6% by volume for the year to December 24th and sales of spirits were down 2%.
• Volume sales of Champagne were down 6% for the year in the off trade and down 12% in the on-trade with Sparkling Wine a likely beneficiary (off-trade volume sales up 7%).
The WSTA Market Report draws on data and analysis from Nielsen, CGA Strategy and the Wilson Drinks Report.
While overall volumes were down for the year sales value across all alcohol categories was up 5%, driven substantially by VAT and excise duty increases.
Within individual categories it’s a mixed picture.
• Nielsen data shows off-trade sales of wine at lower price points have continued to fall as consumers are drawn to other categories including cider (up 4% by volume for the year and 13% by value) and British Wine (up 51% by volume).*
• Meanwhile sales of wine at prices over £5 have grown significantly in volume and value terms over the past year.
• In the spirits category gin and vodka stand out as the best off trade performers over the year, with volume sales up 2% and 3% respectively. In the on trade malt whisky has fared particularly well, with volumes up 31% over the year and value up 48%.
Commenting on the latest sales figures WSTA interim Chief Executive Gavin Partington said:
“It’s clear that many consumers continue to feel the pinch yet the duty escalator on alcohol continues to push prices up and sadly the Budget later this month threatens more of the same.
“If Budget tax increases go through as scheduled, tax on wine and spirits will have increased by 45% and 40% respectively since 2008. It’s a tax take that hurts consumers and undermines our industry’s efforts to support economic growth.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
*British wine is not to be confused with English wine. British wine is bottled in the UK and made using imported concentrated grape juice, whereas English wine derives exclusively from grapes grown in English vineyards. The sales figures are not included in this report but are provided by Nielsen.
The WSTA Market Report is available to WSTA Members only.
WSTA
The WSTA is the UK organisation for the wine and spirit industry representing over 340 companies producing, importing, transporting and selling wines and spirits.
We campaign to promote the industry’s interests with governments at home and abroad.
We work with our members to promote the responsible production, marketing and sale of alcohol.
For more information please contact Gavin Partington:
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7089 3876
Mob: +44 (0) 7966 014058
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Budget Forces Further Price Rises
The WSTA warns consumers face further drinks price rises after the Chancellor announced a 5% increase in excise duty in today’s Budget.
The Chancellor decided to continue the alcohol tax escalator, which automatically increases tax on alcohol by two per cent above inflation.
Today’s tax increase adds to the pressure on a sector which has seen volume sales continue to decline in the past year as consumers reined in spending.
The rate of alcohol taxation in the UK is now so out of step with our European neighbours that visitors to the London Olympics will face paying 50 per cent more for an average bottle of wine (£4.89) than if the Games were being held in Paris (£3.26) and triple what they would pay in Madrid (£1.52).
Duty and VAT already account for three quarters of the average price of a bottle of spirits and half the price of a bottle of wine. The latest duty rise equates to:
• 11p more on a 75cl bottle of wine;
• 41p more on a 70cl bottle of spirits at 37.5% abv; and
• 3p more on a pint of beer.
These forecast price increases include VAT.
The tax increase comes into effect from 00.01 on Monday 26 March.
The Chancellor also referenced the Government’s imminent alcohol strategy but did not refer specifically to any proposed measures it may contain.
WSTA Interim Chief Executive Gavin Partington said:
"Today’s Budget puts Britain on course for an Olympic record that gives no cause for celebration.
“Consumers and businesses are already paying the price for the excessive duty increases in recent years and today’s news means more price rises are on the way.
“Whilst we recognise the pressure on the public finances, the mounting duty burden on the sector is holding it back from contributing fully to the UK’s economic recovery.”
Ends
Notes to editors
In March 2008 the Chancellor announced a 4 year tax escalator, to increase duty rates by 2 per cent above the rate of inflation. In March 2010, it was announced that the escalator would remain in place for two further years, until 2014-15.
HM Treasury has based its calculation on a combination of RPI for the 6 months prior to the Budget and RPI forecast for 6 months post-Budget.
The WSTA is the UK organisation for the wine and spirit industry representing over 340 companies producing, importing, transporting and selling wines and spirits. We campaign to promote the industry's interests with governments at home and abroad. We work with our members to promote the responsible production, marketing and sale of alcohol.
For more information please contact Gavin Partington:
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7089 3876
Mob: +44 (0) 7966 014058
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
WSTA Response to Prime Minister's statement on alcohol misuse
Responding to Prime Minister David Cameron's comments on the cost to the NHS of alcohol misuse, WSTA Spokesman Gavin Partington said:
'The drinks industry is committed to helping the Government tackle alcohol misuse, alongside other stakeholders. This is why we are working hard through the Public Health Responsibility Deal on a range of initiatives to promote responsible drinking.
These include the expansion of Community Alcohol Partnerships across the UK and a national campaign by retailers to raise consumer awareness about the units of alcohol in their favourite drinks.
Unlike these measures, minimum unit pricing is a blunt tool which would both fail to address the problem of alcohol misuse and punish the vast majority of responsible consumers. As Government ministers acknowledge, it is also probably illegal'.
For more information please contact Gavin Partington:
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7089 3876
Mob: +44 (0) 7966 014058
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
