Tesco backs minimum price for alcohol
Updated on 21 May 2010
Tesco chief Sir Terry Leahy backs calls for minimum pricing of alcohol, saying his customers believe binge drinking is one of the most serious issues facing the country.
In an article in the Daily Telegraph, Sir Terry said his company would support the government's plans for price controls to tackle the problem.
A survey of Tesco's customers found nearly 70 per cent thought excessive drinking was one of the most serious issues facing the country, while 61 per cent were concerned about anti-social behaviour as a result of drinking.
Writing in the newspaper, Sir Terry says: "We welcome the new Government's commitment to act on below-cost selling of alcohol and today I pledge that we will support Government-led action to make this happen across the UK.
"We will also support any future discussions on a minimum price for alcohol."
He added: "We know from our experience in selling food that providing clear information to customers can help drive behaviour change.
"Putting simple information on the front of the pack about salt and fat content has led to a big increase in the sale of healthier alternatives.
"So we will now do the same for alcohol on all our own-label products, bringing the information on units of alcohol from the back label to the front.
"We will also work with branded suppliers to develop this as an industry-wide standard."
