Fuelling the problem? The sale of alcohol at petrol stations in Wales

Wednesday 14 July 2010

A new Alcohol Concern Cymru briefing paper is aiming to stimulate wider public debate on the issue of alcohol sales at petrol stations and garages.

France has recently prohibited sales of alcohol from petrol stations, and similar legislation has been introduced in Scotland. In the USA, whilst alcohol sales are permitted at petrol stations in some areas, many states have implemented laws that prohibit the possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages in the passenger areas of motor vehicles. As well as seeking to reduce the number of road traffic accidents, these ‘open container’ laws have served as an expression of a more general desire to disassociate alcohol completely from driving.

In England and Wales, whilst the sale of alcohol is banned at motorway service areas, it is often sold legally at petrol stations and garages that sell groceries and other goods. Whilst local authorities may attempt to refuse alcohol licenses for such premises, such refusals are often overturned in the courts.

An Alcohol Concern survey of petrol stations in eight counties in Wales in May 2010 found that 33 per sold alcohol, a figure that corresponds to previous research undertaken in England and Wales. The survey also highlighted that training for staff on selling alcohol was not consistent.

Alcohol Concern Cymru Policy Manager, Andrew Misell commented:

"Although the number of drink-driving accidents has substantially reduced over the last twenty years, as many as one in six deaths on roads in the UK are caused by drivers over the legal alcohol limit, and in 2008, there were 5,183 positive or refused breath tests in Wales.

"Petrol stations, by their very nature, are strongly associated with driving and attract significant trade from motorists. Of course, motorists have many opportunities to purchase alcohol from premises other than petrol stations, such as off-licenses and supermarkets, but we need to think carefully about whether making alcohol available at petrol stations is in the best interest of all road users.

"Alcohol Concern recognises that there are practical difficulties in implementing any ban on alcohol sales from petrol stations, and consideration needs to be given to alternative or complimentary measures, such as the American model of open container legislation."

Clive Wolfendale, Chief Executive of CAIS and former Deputy Chief Constable of North Wales, said:

"Drink driving is still one of the major causes of death on our roads.  We should avoid placing before motorists even the temptation to consume alcohol behind the wheel."

Alcohol Concern is recommending:

  1. Drink-drive warnings should be displayed at the point of sale at all petrol stations where alcohol is available for purchase.
  2. Any petrol station applying for an alcohol licence must be able to demonstrate that it will provide training for staff on responsible alcohol sales practices.
  3. A review of the effectiveness of bans on alcohol sales from petrol stations in other countries, and alternative measures undertaken, should be undertaken to inform discussions about implementing equivalent measures in England and Wales.
  4. The protection and improvement of public health must be established as a fifth criterion within the Licensing Act 2003 for assessing licenses applications, including those from petrol stations.
  5. In accordance with the recent North Review of drink and drug driving law, the drink-driving blood alcohol limit in England and Wales should be reduced from 80mg/100ml to 50mg/100ml.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

  • For interviews, contact Andrew Misell, 029 2066 0248 or 0755 2474446; amisell@alcoholconcern.org.uk
  • Copies of the briefing paper Fuelling the problem? in English and Welsh are available from the Alcohol Concern website. Hard copies are available free of charge from Alcohol Concern Cymru.
  • A bilingual version of this press release is available in the Alcohol Concern Cymru News section of the website.
  • Alcohol Concern is the national agency on alcohol misuse campaigning for effective alcohol policy and improved services for people whose lives are affected by alcohol-related problems.
  • Alcohol Concern opened its office in Cardiff in 2009, and Alcohol Concern Cymru is focusing on policy and public health in Wales, acting as a champion for alcohol harm reduction.
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