Tesco Wine Chief Backs Minimum Pricing

24 May 2013

The director of Tesco's wine unit, Dan Jago, has said that the group "remains supporters of minimum unit pricing", while claiming the measure would not boost the company's profits.

In an interview published by Just Drinks, Mr Jago said "extensive" research carried out by the retailer suggested there would be a "significant decline in total sales" meaning there would be no net benefit to its business, despite the higher prices.

Minimum pricing remains the subject of a legal battle in Scotland, while the Westminster government has reportedly dropped the planned measure. The Tesco Executive hinted that the company would prefer that minimum pricing be used to deter excessive drinking in the UK rather than higher duty rates. "I think that leaving yourselves open to that tax increasing further is quite dangerous," he said.