Threshers and wine rack in administration...why not bail THEM out?

[Pete]

I heard this on the radio today and heard they'd be having a sale to get rid of all their stock....which wasn't really true.They had discounts but it still didn't compare to the supermaket prices.

The only difference was that I felt like I was going into that place to specifically buy wine...and was actually advised...and when i buy wine from a supermarket it's simply a transaction.

Alcohol abuse is one of the biggest problems facing this generation and the goverment is doing very little about it. However, one of the things it is trying to do is separate alcohol purchases from normal shopping yet specific alcohol outlets are allowed to go to the wall.

A brave and bold move would surely be to ban supermarkets selling alcohol in any form...and let bespoke outlets like threshers and wine rack be the only outlets....along with responsible corner shops.

The big four sell alcohol at a loss just to bring in the customers so it wouldn't be any real loss to them.

I think a real solution is staring them in the face.

[H18sry]

Whatever happened to freedom of choice? Its a buyers market I stay in Balerno and we do not have a Threshers/corner shop that sells alcohol only the supermarket so what are we supposed to do :confused:

[Jack]

In the NHS chemists are not allowed to open willy nilly where ever they like. I'd like to see a similar system introduced for shops selling booze.
This nonsense of virtually every shop and garage selling it is nonsense.

[Betty Boop]

In the NHS chemists are not allowed to open willy nilly where ever they like. I'd like to see a similar system introduced for shops selling booze.
This nonsense of virtually every shop and garage selling it is nonsense.

Garages are no longer permitted to sell alcohol IIRC?

[MSK]

Garages are no longer permitted to sell alcohol IIRC?Does that exclude Tesco express etc ..?..surely there cant be one law for one & another law for the other ..

[Killiehibbie]

Garages are no longer permitted to sell alcohol IIRC?

Must be a local council thing they are allowed in East Ayrshire.

[Houchy]

I heard this on the radio today and heard they'd be having a sale to get rid of all their stock....which wasn't really true.They had discounts but it still didn't compare to the supermaket prices.

The only difference was that I felt like I was going into that place to specifically buy wine...and was actually advised...and when i buy wine from a supermarket it's simply a transaction.

Alcohol abuse is one of the biggest problems facing this generation and the goverment is doing very little about it. However, one of the things it is trying to do is separate alcohol purchases from normal shopping yet specific alcohol outlets are allowed to go to the wall.

A brave and bold move would surely be to ban supermarkets selling alcohol in any form...and let bespoke outlets like threshers and wine rack be the only outlets....along with responsible corner shops.

The big four sell alcohol at a loss just to bring in the customers so it wouldn't be any real loss to them.

I think a real solution is staring them in the face.

Massively overpriced, it's no surprise no-one uses them. I went to use the 2 for 1 offer last year but it was stil working out more expensive for 6 bottles of Moet than at Morrisons. If they want to price themselves that far out of the market, they can F*** off.

[steakbake]

Whatever happened to freedom of choice? Its a buyers market I stay in Balerno and we do not have a Threshers/corner shop that sells alcohol only the supermarket so what are we supposed to do :confused:

You don't really have any decent pubs out their either. You'd need a drink - or something stronger - if you lived in Balerno.

[IWasThere2016]

The supermarkets need reigned in IMHO - they are destroying our high streets.

The range of goods and their hours etc are making impossible for some small/medium sized independent/chains to compete and the consumer is faced with ever-limited choice.

[Betty Boop]

Does that exclude Tesco express etc ..?..surely there cant be one law for one & another law for the other ..

I'm not sure, but I would imagine so, apparently the ban came into force in September.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/petrol-retailers-fight-ban-on-alcohol-sales-1.896898

[Killiehibbie]

I'm not sure, but I would imagine so, apparently the ban came into force in September.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/petrol-retailers-fight-ban-on-alcohol-sales-1.896898

Always wondered why when I click on some links everything crashes and this is one of them.

[Betty Boop]

Always wondered why when I click on some links everything crashes and this is one of them.

Petrol retailers fight ban on alcohol sales

GERRY BRAIDEN

0 comments
Published on 9 Dec 2008

Petroleum giant BP and petrol retailers' representatives are taking court action across Scotland in an attempt to overturn the ban on the sale of alcohol in all but remote filling stations.

At least seven separate appeals will be made to sheriffs principal in Scotland's three largest cities after they were told they were no longer permitted to sell alcohol. Several of the appeals , are by BP/Marks & Spencer Simply Food Outlets.

The ban becomes total next September, with only forecourts which can prove to local licensing boards that they are the main source of fuel and groceries for an area being granted permission to continue selling alcohol.

The conditions have been included to protect rural filling stations, which often double as the main supermarket in an area.

However, trade representatives have said the policy is meaningless as there is no evidence of a link between the sale of alcohol in garages and drink driving. They warn that it would punish small retailers while major supermarkets continue to sell both alcohol and petrol.

The appeals emerged last week during a conference where major players in the licensed trade, including civil servants, licensing boards, lawyers and pub chain and retail representatives, debated the progress of Scotland's incoming liquor laws.

Those seeking to overturn the ban include two BP-owned outlets in Glasgow - one Simply Food on Great Western Road and a BP Autoparts on Paisley Road West.

The two others in Glasgow, on Crow Road and Castlebank Street, Partick, are owned by the head of the Petrol Retailers Association in the west of Scotland, Raman Sood.

In Edinburgh, two BP Simply Food garages are taking action, along with another BP forecourt in Aberdeen.

One of the country's leading experts on liquor laws said it was "legislation by perception". Jack Cummins, who organised last week's conference, compared the situation with and off-sales with car parks.

He said: "If this is meant to suggest that a ban on the sale of alcohol from a forecourt prevents drinking and driving then it's based on nothing but perception.

"It suggests the alcohol has been bought for immediate consumption, which in itself is ridiculous.

"Hopefully, these appeals will bring some clarity to the matter."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said it was policy not to comment on individual cases. However, she added: "Our position has always been that the 2005 Act prevents garages from selling alcohol unless they are serving a wider community need."

A Glasgow Licensing Board spokesman said: "As appeals are currently pending, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."

We have made every effort to check the copyright and contents of all material in this archive, but if you have any complaint or comment please contact us at [email protected].

[Pete]

Whatever happened to freedom of choice? Its a buyers market I stay in Balerno and we do not have a Threshers/corner shop that sells alcohol only the supermarket so what are we supposed to do :confused:

If it were to happen then no doubt there would be an outlet or two opening up in Balerno to fulfill demand.

I think the problem has grown so much that terms like "freedom of choice" and "buyers market" should simply not apply when it comes to alcohol. It needs to be reigned in and quick.

It might seem a little harsh on people like yourself, no doubt a responsible drinker, but as a drug it's too addictive and destructive for for us to sit back and let market forces take over.

The pricing policy in these outlets has come in for some criticism from some people...myself included but maybe it's because we are used to drink that has been sold too cheaply from supermarkets.

It's not that these outlets are too pricey...it's the fact that the big boys are selling them far too cheaply that is giving us this impression.

[Phil D. Rolls]

I heard this on the radio today and heard they'd be having a sale to get rid of all their stock....which wasn't really true.They had discounts but it still didn't compare to the supermaket prices.

The only difference was that I felt like I was going into that place to specifically buy wine...and was actually advised...and when i buy wine from a supermarket it's simply a transaction.

Alcohol abuse is one of the biggest problems facing this generation and the goverment is doing very little about it. However, one of the things it is trying to do is separate alcohol purchases from normal shopping yet specific alcohol outlets are allowed to go to the wall.

A brave and bold move would surely be to ban supermarkets selling alcohol in any form...and let bespoke outlets like threshers and wine rack be the only outlets....along with responsible corner shops.

The big four sell alcohol at a loss just to bring in the customers so it wouldn't be any real loss to them.

I think a real solution is staring them in the face.

When did this lot ever go for the obvious answer? Besides, I dare say Sainsbury's and Tesco are a lot closer to the heart of government than the likes of Threshers.

[Phil D. Rolls]

The supermarkets need reigned in IMHO - they are destroying our high streets.

The range of goods and their hours etc are making impossible for some small/medium sized independent/chains to compete and the consumer is faced with ever-limited choice.

Tescos business strategy when they move into a new location is to see what the local shops are selling and then heavily undercut them, thus forcing the wee guys out of business.

Where does that leave those who can't make it to a big supermarket, like the elderly, many of whom can't drive, and all of whom shouldn't be driving?

[Green Mikey]

The supermarkets need reigned in IMHO - they are destroying our high streets.

The range of goods and their hours etc are making impossible for some small/medium sized independent/chains to compete and the consumer is faced with ever-limited choice.

Smaller shops close when a supermarket opens because the customers choose to shop at the supermarket. Protecting consumer choice by restricting supermarket growth seems strange when people are consistently choosing supermarkets over smaller shops.

[Green Mikey]

If it were to happen then no doubt there would be an outlet or two opening up in Balerno to fulfill demand.

I think the problem has grown so much that terms like "freedom of choice" and "buyers market" should simply not apply when it comes to alcohol. It needs to be reigned in and quick.

It might seem a little harsh on people like yourself, no doubt a responsible drinker, but as a drug it's too addictive and destructive for for us to sit back and let market forces take over.

The pricing policy in these outlets has come in for some criticism from some people...myself included but maybe it's because we are used to drink that has been sold too cheaply from supermarkets.

It's not that these outlets are too pricey...it's the fact that the big boys are selling them far too cheaply that is giving us this impression.

I don't think that restricting the sale of alcohol due to alcoholism is a good idea. Firstly, alcohol is only an addictive drug to a very small minority of it's users. Health problems and binge drinking might be curbed by restricting alcohol sales however if a person is pre-disposed to alcoholism or is already an alcoholic they will not be deterred by making it more difficult to purchase.

Secondly, if minimum prices and restictions are imposed on alcohol it would probably create a black market in cheap alcohol. Pushing alcohol sales into the hands of organised crime may not be a great ides.

[Jack]

I don't think that restricting the sale of alcohol due to alcoholism is a good idea. Firstly, alcohol is only an addictive drug to a very small minority of it's users. Health problems and binge drinking might be curbed by restricting alcohol sales however if a person is pre-disposed to alcoholism or is already an alcoholic they will not be deterred by making it more difficult to purchase.

Secondly, if minimum prices and restictions are imposed on alcohol it would probably create a black market in cheap alcohol. Pushing alcohol sales into the hands of organised crime may not be a great ides.

I agree with the gist of what you say.

With regard to the accessibility of booze I find it almost disturbing that there's hardly a wee shop these days that doesn’t sell booze [and as a red herring part to this discussion, but see below, a group of kids, mid teens, hanging about outside it].

Now it might just be I’m an auld codger but I remember when I was young most corner shops didn’t sell booze, chippies didn’t sell booze, newsagents didn’t sell booze. Booze was virtually only available from off licences, which only sold booze and not all the other stuff that now attracts young kids in, and supermarkets .

We’re now seeing cigarettes becoming more restricted and soon to be hidden. Why not restrict the booze back to how it once was, or I perceived it to be?

The minimum price being suggested at the moment is set at a level where I don’t think the black market would interfere too much with the objectives of the legislation.

[heretoday]

What a disaster that business has been. They had the chance to really innovate and use some imagination but blew it.

You can't get a bottle of reasonably priced wine there any more. Three for two? I don't want to come clanking out of Victoria Wine on a Tuesday night with three bottles of wine.
I only want one to have with the meal.

But did they listen to me? Did they ....

[Barney McGrew]

Garages are no longer permitted to sell alcohol IIRC?

The origional plan was for garages to no longer be granted a license, but some of the Licensing Boards have allowed them to still stock alcohol.

It depends where you stay whether they can or not.

[IWasThere2016]

Smaller shops close when a supermarket opens because the customers choose to shop at the supermarket. Protecting consumer choice by restricting supermarket growth seems strange when people are consistently choosing supermarkets over smaller shops.

Many have no choice as TESCO/ASDA etc kill off the competition ..

[ArabHibee]

I'm not sure, but I would imagine so, apparently the ban came into force in September.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/petrol-retailers-fight-ban-on-alcohol-sales-1.896898

Would this be the reason why the Tesco Metro/petrol station near to me has stopped you filling up with fuel, going in to get a couple of bits and bobs and being able to pay for it all together?

Since September, you now have to fill up, queue at the window to pay for your fuel then go into the shop if you want any shopping. :confused: