Police chief slams pub firm price cuts

Jan 7 2009 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

A TOP North police officer last night condemned budget pub chain JD Wetherspoon after it slashed alcohol to 1989 prices.

A decision by the chain this week to cut prices on some drinks and food – and offer a pint of beer for less than £1 – has angered anti-binge drink campaigners.

And last night Northumbria Police Chief Constable Mike Craik, who is also the national spokesperson for alcohol licensing, said it was beyond comprehension to sell alcohol for as little as 99p.

The company, which operates 20 pubs across the region, said the price reductions on some beer, bottled lager, wine and spirits will run “indefinitely”. A number of meals will also be offered at £2.99.

But Mr Craik said he was “deeply concerned” that the pub chain was using “the current economic downturn in this way”. He said: “At a time when I believe we are beginning to make real progress this can only be seen as a retrograde and irresponsible action. To charge less than a pound for a pint is beyond comprehension. Certainly in Northumbria I will ensure that the laws around drink and disorder are rigorously enforced.

“There is no doubt that irresponsible drinking leads to alcohol-fuelled violence and suggestions that enforcement alone can provide an answer is ignorant.

“Last year, nearly one fifth of all violent incidents took place in or around pubs and clubs at a cost of £7.3bn to the UK. The industry has an important part to play in helping to reduce the excessive drinking that leads to alcohol-fuelled disorder on our streets.

“Now is the time to ask those who supply alcohol to acknowledge their responsibility. We look forward to working with government and partners on proposals to meet this aim.”

A Wetherspoon spokesman last night defended the sale, saying the pubs are well run and operate responsibly.

However, angry pub owners claim the move would help deepen the crisis facing the region’s independent pubs.

Last week The Journal exclusively revealed that one pub closes every 10 days in the North East as customers buy cheap drink and stay at home.

Tony Brookes, managing director of the Head of Steam group which operates three pubs in Newcastle, described the decision as “irresponsible” and said independent pub owners would struggle to survive.

He said: “This is the most dangerous year in the history of pubs. I think we will see some surprising closures across the North East. This announcement by Wetherspoon will just put more pressure on independent pubs to lower their prices to unreasonable levels. I think it’s irresponsible and deplorable and simply makes it more difficult for everyone to survive.”

Alcohol Concern claimed the move would lead to an alcohol price war and encourage drinkers to consume more.

The charity also said that if the drinks industry did not regulate itself, then the Government had a duty to step in.

A Wetherspoon spokesman said: “We note the comments from Chief Constable Mike Craik. However, it is wrong to assume that serving a quality pint of real ale at 99p will lead to binge drinking.

“ In our opinion it is the quality of the staff in a pub that make the difference, so that a well run pub serving a pint of real ale at 99p is far less likely to have problems compared to a badly run pub serving a pint of beer at £1.50.”