Drinkers floored by hike

Wine website, bottleshops raise prices

TERRITORIANS were told the Labor Government’s alcohol floor price would push up the bill for only the cheapest of bargain wines, but some retailers are hiking prices on other lines.

Popular online wine retailer vinomofo.com emailed its Territory customers this week outlining changes to its pricing structure.

The email says the pricing review was “prompted” by the floor price introduction, but also includes a reference to the comparatively high cost of freight to the Territory – $49 for a case of wine. Territorians will now have to pay more than three times the shipping costs of customers elsewhere in the nation.

Subscribers were told wine deliveries to the Territory would cost $28 per case, far exceeding the flat rate of $9 per order, regardless of volume, charged to other customers. While other customers are eligible for free shipping if they order three or more cases, Territorians will have to pay the full amount.

Territory Consumer Affairs Commissioner Gary Clements said his office was investigating the email to determine if Vinomofo had engaged in “misleading or deceptive conduct”. Mr Clements said Consumer Affairs had received “very few” complaints relating to the floor price.

Attorney-General Natasha Fyles said retailers were on notice.

“Anyone caught blaming the floor price for their own price rises could be guilty of price gouging and NT Con- sumer Affairs are watching retailers,” she said. “The floor price is $1.30 per standard drink. Any price rise above that is a business decision.

“Anyone blaming the floor price for increased costs that aren’t associated with volume of alcohol should be very careful.”

Shipping costs don’t count towards the floor price.

Bottleshops throughout Darwin increased the price of some of the most popular cartons of beer by as much as 20 per cent following the floor price’s introduction.

One bottleshop in Darwin over the weekend put up signage apologising for not honouring a nationally advertised special, blaming the new laws.

Rises have been most noticeable on cases of canned, mass-market beer and from online outlets, which are banned from delivering grog to the Territory for less than the floor price.

The NT News contacted Vinomofo for comment.

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