Politicians fall out over ‘booze cruises’ for Scots

Members of the Labour group on Northumberland County Council suggested the authority might miss out on a “golden opportunity” by not setting aside cash to entice Scottish drinkers with an advertising campaign.

Earlier this year the Scottish Parliament agreed on plans to set a minimum price per unit of alcohol at 50p, which should come into force in April, to reduce binge-drinking.

A knock-on effect could see trippers head to England on booze cruises, and the potential of a bonanza for those retailers ready to meet the demand.

Northumberland County Council’s Labour group economic spokeswoman Susan Davey said: “By not setting aside an adequate advertising budget to promote travel and shopping in Northumberland to the Scots, the county may miss out on this golden opportunity.

“Shops in Berwick, Alnwick and Morpeth with easy access to the A1 should be preparing to accept a huge increase in trade but I expect, without an advertising campaign, Carlisle with its easy motorway access will win this race.”

The statement was branded irresponsible and ridiculous by Alnwick’s Conservative county councillor Gordon Castle.

“We want to promote Alnwick, we want Scottish tourists, but we don’t want booze tourists,” he said. “It’s so bizarre, I didn’t think they were serious.”

Mr Castle thought any cross-border increase in alcohol sales would benefit national supermarkets, not local independent stores.

“Frankly, the supermarkets are doing very nicely anyway,” he said. “This is not going to help our high street.”

Sir Alan Beith, Liberal Democrat MP for Berwick upon Tweed, said: “The county council is engaged in a serious debate, and responding to the Government’s consultation about whether minimum pricing for alcohol, which is being tried in Scotland, could help deal with our grave alcohol-related health problems here in the North East.

“It sounds as if Labour does not take these problems seriously, which is pretty irresponsible.”

Liberal Democrats on Northumberland County Council have warned of the risks that encouraging “booze tourism” from Scotland would bring.

Councillor Anita Romer, executive member for health and public protection, was disappointed by Labour’s attitude. “We are making good progress in reducing the harm caused by excessive drinking in Northumberland and statements like those made by Labour seriously risk undermining it.

“It would send out mixed messages if we were, on the one hand, encouraging the people who live in Northumberland to drink responsibly, while on the other hand inviting people down from Scotland to, as Labour put it, ‘fill their cellars’ with cheap drink.”

Comment: Page 12.