VICTORIA, Australia – The Australasian Association of Convenience Stores welcomes recommendations from the Australian government’s Select Committee on Red Tape that will allow convenience stores to sell packaged alcohol.
AACS CEO Jeff Rogut congratulated the committee for taking a common-sense approach to this issue and recognizing the competitive imbalance that exists in the current retail market.
"We have repeatedly emphasized the economic case for deregulation in this sector to level the playing field and unlock new revenue and employment opportunities for small businesses,” he said. "These recommendations recognize the current disparity and we thank the committee members for their support. We now hope government takes these recommendations on board.”
Rogut continued that convenience stores around the world participate in the packaged alcohol market, but Australia is one of the few countries where it remains illegal.
“Hopefully common sense will prevail and create an opportunity to help small business and improve competition for consumers,” he said. "Too often alarmist rhetoric and emotional arguments from the health lobby override the sensible business case when it comes to this issue. But packaged alcohol is already widely available and our industry operators are proven responsible retailers.”
Rogut says convenience stores are not seeking to be able to sell packaged alcohol around the clock and will comply with all relevant trading hour and staff training requirements. "All we are seeking is the right to compete," he said.
The AACS has fought for many years to secure the right for convenience stores to stock alcohol and bring the industry in line with the rest of the world. “Convenience stores are proven responsible retailers and are willing to operate within an agreed framework in terms of trading hour restrictions, staff training and other compliance requirements,” Rogut said.
The AACS has also called on the many beer and wine suppliers squeezed out of the major chain outlets due to their focus on home brands, to work with the convenience industry to increase the pressure on government and promote a more level playing field.