Supermarkets slash prices ahead of World Cup
they a bit late with this report
us pts been stocked up a while now 
good owl asdas tho well done 
Supermarkets have slashed the price of beer to less than 50p a pint
Supermarkets have launched a 'kamikaze' price war ahead of the World Cup that is slashing the price of beer to less than 50p a pint.
Asda cut the price of cases of bitter, lager and cider ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend to just ?9.
Tesco and Sainsbury's ran similar deals, fuelling concerns they are feeding a dangerous binge-drink culture.
Doctors, the police and politicians from all parties have condemned supermarkets for selling drink at below cost, and furious publicans and pub companies claim the tactic is driving them out of business.
Asda was selling a case of 24 cans of Boddingtons bitter last week for just ?9, while there was a similar deal on Blackthorn Cider. That equates to 48p a pint - less than a fifth of what drinkers pay in a pub.
It also means the beer is cheaper than water, with a 750ml bottle of San Pellegrino selling at the equivalent of 73p a pint. Supermarkets also offer their own-label alcohol, which is even cheaper.
Tesco's low-alcohol Value Lager sells at 29p a pint.
Tesco, which is England's official World Cup supermarket, sold cases of big-brand beer for ?10.
Sainsbury's sold ?9 cases of 15 cans of Foster's and Carling.
Pub companies are effectively barred from selling drink at below cost, but the same rules do not apply to supermarkets. Industry sources say supermarkets are losing up to ?6 on every case of beer they sell for ?9.
The chief executive of pub owners Mitchells & Butler, Adam Fowle, said: 'Today, 70 per cent of all alcohol is purchased in supermarkets.
'We are urging policy makers to implement measures to raise supermarkets to the higher standards of social responsibility in alcohol retailing which are already expected of pubs.'
The sales director of a lager firm told The Grocer magazine: 'I've been in the beer industry for37 years and cannot remember such ruthless, kamikaze trading.'
And the director of a beer company told The Publican magazine: 'It is reaching quite ludicrous levels. This is still two months before the World Cup so it will probably lead to deals of two crates for ?16 by the time it starts.'
The Conservatives and the Lib-Dems say they will ban below-cost selling of alcohol by supermarkets, but the British Retail Consortium says supermarkets are not to blame for rising drunkenness.
A spokesman said: 'Irresponsible drinking is not about price, it's a cultural issue.'
A JUDGE has called for an end to Labour's controversial policy on 24-hour drinking after dealing with 'daily' cases of drunken violence.
Judge Christopher Harvey Clark QC said: 'There is far too much violence and drunkenness on the streets late at night.
'It may, in part, be due to the relaxation of the licensing laws. I would hope that relaxation is reviewed in the foreseeable future.'
they a bit late with this report
us pts been stocked up a while now good owl asdas tho well done Supermarkets have slashed the price of beer to less than 50p a pint Supermarkets have launched a 'kamikaze' price war ahead of the World Cup that is slashing the price of beer to less than 50p a pint.
Asda cut the price of cases of bitter, lager and cider ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend to just ?9.
Tesco and Sainsbury's ran similar deals, fuelling concerns they are feeding a dangerous binge-drink culture.
Doctors, the police and politicians from all parties have condemned supermarkets for selling drink at below cost, and furious publicans and pub companies claim the tactic is driving them out of business.
Asda was selling a case of 24 cans of Boddingtons bitter last week for just ?9, while there was a similar deal on Blackthorn Cider. That equates to 48p a pint - less than a fifth of what drinkers pay in a pub.
It also means the beer is cheaper than water, with a 750ml bottle of San Pellegrino selling at the equivalent of 73p a pint. Supermarkets also offer their own-label alcohol, which is even cheaper.
Tesco's low-alcohol Value Lager sells at 29p a pint.
Tesco, which is England's official World Cup supermarket, sold cases of big-brand beer for ?10.
Sainsbury's sold ?9 cases of 15 cans of Foster's and Carling.
Pub companies are effectively barred from selling drink at below cost, but the same rules do not apply to supermarkets. Industry sources say supermarkets are losing up to ?6 on every case of beer they sell for ?9.
The chief executive of pub owners Mitchells & Butler, Adam Fowle, said: 'Today, 70 per cent of all alcohol is purchased in supermarkets.
'We are urging policy makers to implement measures to raise supermarkets to the higher standards of social responsibility in alcohol retailing which are already expected of pubs.'
The sales director of a lager firm told The Grocer magazine: 'I've been in the beer industry for37 years and cannot remember such ruthless, kamikaze trading.'
And the director of a beer company told The Publican magazine: 'It is reaching quite ludicrous levels. This is still two months before the World Cup so it will probably lead to deals of two crates for ?16 by the time it starts.'
The Conservatives and the Lib-Dems say they will ban below-cost selling of alcohol by supermarkets, but the British Retail Consortium says supermarkets are not to blame for rising drunkenness.
A spokesman said: 'Irresponsible drinking is not about price, it's a cultural issue.'
A JUDGE has called for an end to Labour's controversial policy on 24-hour drinking after dealing with 'daily' cases of drunken violence.
Judge Christopher Harvey Clark QC said: 'There is far too much violence and drunkenness on the streets late at night.
'It may, in part, be due to the relaxation of the licensing laws. I would hope that relaxation is reviewed in the foreseeable future.'
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