MICROBREWERS have criticised an apparent deal between a Scottish council and Tesco that will see the supermarket chain ban sales of strong beers, ciders and alcopops in exchange for a licence to expand sales.
The retail giant offered to stop selling some drinks with an alcohol by volume (ABV) content greater than 5.5% to appease the licensing board at West Dumbartonshire Council.
The local authority has brought in tough licensing laws in an attempt to improve the area's record for alcohol abuse, which is one of the worst in Scotland. The agreement is designed to target premium ciders and cheap "super lagers", which are being blamed for problem drinking.
However, it will also indirectly affect sales of craft beers produced by Scotland's microbrewers, as well as premium products imported from the continent.
Those in the craft beer trade said they would face serious losses if the situation was to be repeated in other parts of Scotland. Gerald Michaluk, owner of the Arran Brewery, described the decision as "nonsensical", as wines and spirits with a much stronger alcohol content would still be on sale.
Among his brewery's products is Arran Milestone, a beer with an ABV content of 6.0 % that has won awards at beer festivals but would now be banned from sale by Tesco in West Dunbartonshire.
He said: "This is absolutely nonsensical. A bottle of wine is has an ABV of 12%, and if I was in the area and I wanted to get drunk I would just go and get a bottle of that.
"I'm very surprised if this would get past European competition regulations. It hurts Scottish producers and its almost like they are saying 'go and buy French products – ignore local brewers'.
"We produce a Scottish beer which has been voted the best in the country, yet we can't sell it there. It's just a mad idea."
Another microbrewer, who did not want to be named because the firm's products are stocked by Tesco, said limiting sales by ABV content was wrong.
The beer-maker said: "I think the local authority are coming at this from the wrong angle. It will lead to binge drinking as people who won't be able to buy higher ABV Beers will by ones with less in bulk.
"This seems to be a very roundabout way of doing things. We produce beers with a high ABV, but we would expect people to drink them responsibly."
A West Dunbartonshire Council spokesman said Tesco had approached the local authority with the plan, and insisted it was not a condition of the licence being granted.
He added: "The licensing board approved the application from Tesco to vary the existing licence after considering the application and its benefits compared to the existing premises licence.
"They also took into consideration the additional responsible conditions agreed by Tesco to tailor the products available for sale.
"Tesco offered up these concessions. We did not impose them.
"We have Scotland's toughest licensing regulations and Tesco came to the board in the knowledge that there is a robust regulation, and offered up a few unusual solutions that you might not have expected, to take account of the different environment in West Dunbartonshire.
"We took a bold step and other councils have shown interest in that approach, but we remain in front of the pack."
A spokesman for Tesco said: "As a responsible retailer of alcohol, we work closely with local councils and the police to address any concerns raised in the communities where we operate."
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