Alcohol bargain deals will soon be banned; better stock up now?
Should you go grocery shopping at that other supermarket after all, even though it takes you twice as long because you have no idea where anything is, purely and simply because the crates of beer are on sale there for half the price? As of July 1, you can spare yourself the trouble, because that’s when the ubiquitous bargain deals on alcohol will be curbed…
From July 1, the budget fun will be over, because that’s when the new Alcohol Act comes into force. And it doesn’t promise much good news for consumers who enjoy an alcoholic beverage but also keep an eye on their spending.
Bye-bye, bargain liters
The new Alcohol Act stipulates that from now on, alcohol may be discounted by a maximum of twenty-five percent in stores and online. That would mean you’ll almost never be able to buy a crate for less than ten euros again, and the rules will apply to all types of alcohol. Two bottles of Pinot Grigio for the price of one? A thing of the past!
It can always be healthier
The idea behind this, of course, is that we will all start drinking less, and according to Wim van Dalen, director of the Dutch Institute for Alcohol Policy, price measures are “always effective.” Shall we take things one step further and cut VAT on vegetables and fruit right away too?!
The Wild Wine West
Van Dalen also believes it may become difficult for the NVWA to check whether all retailers will comply with the rules. After all, the maximum permitted discount may soon be applied to the ‘regular’ price. “But what is the regular price of a crate of beer or a particular bottle of wine? That has never been established.” Still, there is also confidence that supermarkets will take their social responsibility here.
At the café, you can still have two more
There is an exception for establishments where alcohol is consumed on the premises; a café may still offer a happy hour. But at home, people may end up drinking a little less after all, and that is precisely the idea…
Also read:
- Can you keep beer longer than you thought, and is that good news?
- Restaurant wants customers to spend a minimum amount, and customers are not amused
- Why your Albert Heijn groceries are suddenly so much more expensive
Source: RTL Nieuws
