Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, today criticised supermarkets which sell alcohol at below-cost prices to generate custom in other departments.  

The MP is backing moves in Parliament to highlight the practice of deep discounting which can lead to alcohol being sold more cheaply than bottled water. 

The MP commented: “This distortion of the market encourages alcohol harm in general and increases young people’s access to alcohol. Underage drinkers are more likely to get their hands on it at home. This super cheap supermarket alcohol also adds to the financial pressures facing community pubs which I want to see survive.”   

Note to editors: The Commons motion reads: "That this House notes the publication of the Mandatory Code for Alcohol Retailers; regrets that the off-trade is not required to uphold similar high standards in its sale of alcohol; further notes that supermarkets' selling of super-cheap alcohol in bulk volumes significantly adds to alcohol harm in the UK; further notes the especially concerning practice of pre-loading, for which the pub trade is not responsible; believes that supermarkets have an important role to play in reducing alcohol harm; and calls on the Government urgently to tackle deep discounting and below-cost selling in the off-trade.