Plans to ban alcohol promotions in Jersey opposed by one in four of the population

A petition opposing plans to introduce a ban on alcohol promotions in Jersey has become the island’s biggest ever, garnering signatures from one in four of the population.

Organisers of the petition are “hopeful” that the huge swathes of public support against the proposition will ensure the ban on bargain deals fails to become a reality.

The idea was first mooted by the administration in the Channel island, the States of Jersey, as part of changes to its licensing laws.

The petition, which had amassed nearly 25,000 signatures when Retail Express went to press, was organised by convenience, off-licence and forecourt group SandpiperCI and the Co-operative Group.

SandpiperCI chief executive Tony O’Neill said: “We are puzzled the consultation report highlights that the ‘majority of the population drinks and that for the most part do so sensibly’, so why penalise the vast majority of island consumers by proposing to stop any price promotions on their favourite tipple?”