Cheap Supermarket Booze

CHEAP SUPERMARKET BOOZE—TRANSCRIPT

REPORTER: The supermarket deals on alcohol look too good to be true—and according to new research, they are. Doctors found shoppers are paying more for everyday groceries to make up for the losses supermarkets incur from selling alcohol below cost. The only people who benefit from cheap booze are those who drink dangerous amounts. The average shopper in effect subsidizes their bingeing.

DOCTOR: They’re using it as a marketing tactic to get people into their store in order to sell other products that they’ve got a better profit margin on. And, well, alcohol is a dangerous product. We can’t do that. They shouldn’t be allowed to do that.

REPORTER: We bought the cheapest bottle of vodka from each of the big four supermarkets. Sainsbury’s charged £7.48 for a standard 70cl bottle. The others were cheaper still. Asda, Morrisons and Tesco sell vodka for as little as £6.98. Now out of that they need to pay alcohol duty of £5.94. Then there’s VAT of 91p, leaving them with just 13 pence to cover the manufacturing, packaging and distribution. It’s hard to believe there’s any money in it for the supermarkets. The researchers did the maths on the effect of forcing the supermarkets to charge more for booze. A minimum price of 50 pence per unit would make alcohol 24% more expensive. But supermarkets could use that extra profit to reduce the price of all other products by 2.8%. Hazardous drinkers would then pay an extra £160 per year. Those who drink responsibly would save between 14 and 71 pounds a year. But the retailers insist discounts aren’t the problem.

RETAILER: Figures from our own retail members suggest the offer’s usually taken advantage of by many customers who are buying products to stock up. They’re simply taking advantage of the discounts. They’re not going to drink, consume that product straight away, so the idea that there’s an automatic link between promotions and consumption is ridiculous.

REPORTER: But there is growing support for a price rise. The Scottish government is expected to introduce legislation shortly, and England’s chief medical officer has also called for an end to cheap deals. CHEAP SUPERMARKET BOOZE—GLOSSARY booze...... alcool (familier) deal...... offre too good to be true...... trop bon pour être vrai research (U)...... recherche(s) everyday...... quotidien groceries...... provisions make up for...... compenser loss...... perte incur...... encourir, subir below cost...... à un prix inférieur au prix de revient average...... moyen shopper...... client subsidize...... subventionner bingeing...... consommation excessive (alcool, nourriture, etc.) store...... magasin product...... produit profit margin...... marge bénéficiaire cheap...... bon marché, peu cher charge...... faire payer, demander duty...... taxe VAT...... TVA manufacturing...... fabrication packaging...... emballage researcher...... chercheur do the maths...... faire le calcul force...... forcer, obliger profit...... profit, bénéfice reduce...... réduire hazardous...... dangereux drinker...... buveur retailer...... détaillant; commerçant discount...... remise figures...... chiffres stock up...... faire ses provisions consume...... consommer straight away...... tout de suite link...... lien consumption...... consommation ridiculous...... ridicule price rise...... augmentation de prix introduce...... introduire CHEAP SUPERMARKET BOOZE—GAP FILL

See if you can fill in the prepositions in the following transcript.

REPORTER: The supermarket deals on alcohol look too good to be true—and according to new research, they are. Doctors found shoppers are paying more ______everyday groceries to make up ______the losses supermarkets incur from selling alcohol ______cost. The only people who benefit ______cheap booze are those who drink dangerous amounts. The average shopper in effect subsidizes their bingeing.

DOCTOR: They’re using it as a marketing tactic to get people ______their store in order to sell other products that they’ve got a better profit margin on. And, well, alcohol is a dangerous product. We can’t do that. They shouldn’t be allowed to do that.

REPORTER: We bought the cheapest bottle of vodka ______each of the big four supermarkets. Sainsbury’s charged £7.48 ______a standard 70cl bottle. The others were cheaper still. Asda, Morrisons and Tesco sell vodka for as little as £6.98. Now out of that they need to pay alcohol duty of £5.94. Then there’s VAT of 91p, leaving them ______just 13 pence to cover the manufacturing, packaging and distribution. It’s hard to believe there’s any money ______it for the supermarkets. The researchers did the maths on the effect ______forcing the supermarkets to charge more for booze. A minimum price of 50 pence per unit would make alcohol 24% more expensive. But supermarkets could use that extra profit to reduce the price of all other products ______2.8%. Hazardous drinkers would then pay an extra £160 per year. Those who drink responsibly would save ______14 and 71 pounds a year. But the retailers insist discounts aren’t the problem.

RETAILER: Figures ______our own retail members suggest the offer’s usually taken advantage of by many customers who are buying products to stock ______. They’re simply taking advantage of the discounts. They’re not going to drink, consume that product straight away, so the idea that there’s an automatic link ______promotions and consumption is ridiculous.

REPORTER: But there is growing support ______a price rise. The Scottish government is expected to introduce legislation shortly, and England’s chief medical officer has also called ______an end to cheap deals. ALCOHOL PRICE DISCUSSION

The Scottish government plans to introduce a minimum price per unit of alcohol. Opinions differ as to whether such a move would be desirable or effective in curbing excessive alcohol consumption.

Work in groups of four. Imagine that you are going to take part in a television discussion about the price of alcohol. Your task is to defend one of the following three points of view (highlighted).

 In favour of a minimum price per unit (Spokesperson for British Medical Association)  Opposed to a minimum price per unit (Spokesperson for Wine and Spirits Trade Association)  In favour of a ban on the sale of alcohol in supermarkets (Chairman of Health England)  Interviewer

Before you begin the discussion, spend some time making notes to support your position. Read the articles your teacher gives you.

The interviewer should prepare questions to ask the participants.

During the discussion, you should put your point of view and explain why you think that way.