The state government says it's serious about strengthening guidelines on alcohol promotions. Source: AAP
THE NSW government says it's serious about preventing irresponsible alcohol promotions and discounting amid claims it's caving in to liquor sellers.
Hospitality minister George Souris on Sunday denied he'd been strong-armed by retailers and supermarket chains into watering down proposed guidelines.
Coles meanwhile has dismissed suggestions that a push by it and fellow supermarket giant Woolworths to get the government to ditch a proposed ban on shopper docket discounts will increase problem drinking.
A spokesman for Mr Souris said the government wanted to strengthen the guidelines on liquor promotions for bottle shops and shopper docket promotions.
"While the views of industry stakeholders are considered, they are but one of a wide range of factors taken into account by the government," he said on Sunday.
The opposition said any move to soften laws would increase alcohol-related harm and former Labor Premier Nathan Rees accused the government of being dictated to by the alcohol lobby.
"There's no question that the alcohol lobby and large supermarket lobby has exerted undue influence on this area of policy-making," Mr Rees told reporters in Sydney.
The NSW Greens claimed the Liquor Store Association (LSA) and retailers were given access to drafts of the guidelines being developed by the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR), while public health and community groups had been "kept in the dark".
A spokesman for Coles said the company had made representations regarding the guidelines as was appropriate in any robust debate on regulatory issues.
He said evidence showed that alcohol-related problems were linked to licensed venues, and not bottle shops, and Coles customers shouldn't be denied discounts.
The LSA said allowing discounts wouldn't encourage irresponsible consumption.
"It's an entirely different thing say you can put $10 on bar and drink all you can ... to here's $10 to buy a couple of bottles of wine that you must take away, and put one in the refrigerator," CEO Terry Mott said.
He said not allowing bottle shops to discount their products would disadvantage "small mum and dad corner stores" as well as the big retailers.
The OLGR was considering its response to the position of Coles and Woolworths, Mr Souris's spokesman said.
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