Supermarkets: Alcoholic Drinks

Grant Shapps
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward proposals to prevent sales promotions by supermarkets selling alcohol at below cost price.

Gillian Merron
I have been asked to reply.

The Government consulted last year on banning the sale of alcohol below duty plus VAT, a form of loss-leader.

We continue to look at how we can tackle the problems caused by cheap alcohol, while respecting the rights of responsible consumers and the Government have commissioned further research in this area.