YOUR report today, Lanarkshire drink problem hits 20%, contains a reference to the sales of Buckfast Tonic Wine. Firstly my company fully agrees with the concerns expressed by Dr Kohli on alcohol abuse, but for the sake of accuracy the unattributable inference and ''statistics'' in relation to Buckfast need some clarification.
Buckfast is produced only as a tonic wine and within the restrictions imposed by product labelling is marketed as such. Indeed, the primary market for Buckfast UK-wide remains those customers who buy it as a tonic product. Buckfast, therefore, sells throughout Scotland and there is absolutely no evidence to claim that ''90% of Buckfast's Scottish sales are in North Lanarkshire'' or that our sales are boosted by under-age drinking.
However, we are not unaware that social problems, particularly in central Scotland, have led to the abuse of Buckfast - along with alcopops, strong ciders and lagers and fortified wines. Put in perspective, Buckfast represents less than half of one per cent of the alcoholic products purchased in central Scotland, as it has for the past 50 years.
Notwithstanding this, our company decided several years ago that Buckfast would not be advertised or promoted in Scotland. Instead our total effort in Scotland has gone into supporting police and community groups in combating alcohol abuse, including advising independent retailers on the social dangers of price-cutting and under-age sales. Have any other drinks companies shown the same responsibility in their marketing policy?
Finally, we are always willing to listen to and support any group or organisation in combating alcohol abuse or in providing facilities for actively encouraging young people with worthwhile alternatives to the social problems of some areas which regrettably can lead to under-age drinking.
Anthony Joyce,
Managing Director,
J Chandler & Co (Buckfast) Ltd,
26 Peterborough Road, London.
November 27.
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