Coles ups wine price to aid Alice alcohol fight

SUPERMARKET giant Coles will introduce a floor price of $1.14 per standard drink on wine sales in its Alice Springs store as it tries to combat alcoholism and alcohol-related harm in the town.

From July 1, $1.99 bottles of cleanskin wine will increase in price to $7.99, two litre casks of wine will be withdrawn from sale and the 30 per cent discount for purchases of six or more bottles of wine will be withdrawn.

The store will stock only one-litre casks of wine for the tourist market, priced at $15 (equivalent to $2 a standard drink).

Woolworths yesterday also enhanced its alcohol restrictions, pledging to remove two-litre casks from its Alice Springs store.

Coles managing director Ian McLeod has written to Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson to inform them of the new policy. "We believe that these measures will help ensure that the vast majority of responsible customers will still be able to access alcohol as part of a balanced lifestyle at affordable prices, as well as meet community expectations for action to protect the vulnerable members of the community in Alice Springs," he said.

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Woolworths said yesterday it had moved in January to remove 28 cheap wine and fortified wine products from its shelves in response to community concerns, and would remove two-litre casks.

"It's in the best interests of the community that both Coles and Woolworths are consistent in approach and we're glad Coles have taken these steps today to come in line with us," a spokeswoman for Woolworths said.

Northern Territory medico John Boffa and People's Alcohol Action Coalition spokesman yesterday welcomed the decision by Coles and urged other liquor outlets to follow the supermarkets.