Call for ban on alcohol rewards
People buying alcohol should not be able to get supermarket loyalty points for their purchases, doctors said.
GPs at a British Medical Association (BMA) conference in Scotland approved a motion that said that customer loyalty points should not be given for drink purchases. Dr Catriona Morton, a GP in Edinburgh, said this would be a “tiny reminder” of the harm caused by alcohol. She added: “Supermarkets offer cut-price deals on alcohol and special promotions to encourage bulk buying of cheap alcohol.”
Doctors at the conference in Clydebank also unanimously approved controversial Scottish Government plans to bring in a minimum price for alcohol.
Dr Jim O’Neil, a GP in Glasgow, said: “I work in an area of deprivation in Glasgow where life expectancy for men is just 58. Alcohol is one of the biggest killers and cause of morbidity in my area.
“Local government must also take responsibility when issuing licenses for corner shops who sell cheap alcohol.”