The papers claim “yes“:

Supermarkets have been accused of encouraging binge drinking by continuing to sell alcohol more cheaply than bottled water.

Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s are among those selling beer at just over 5p per 100ml. This contrasts with a typical price of about 8p for 100ml of brand-name mineral water. (The Times)

But the truth, however, is rather different:

The ‘lager’ to which they are referring is the Basics range gunk, a brew so weak and inspidid that it’s nigh on water anyway. The equivalent, obviously enough, is the Sainsburys Basics range water, which will set you back 13p for 2 litres … or 0.006p per 100ml.

If the journos think that’s unfair, they could always have compared Sainsbury’s real own brand lager instead. Crown Lager (4×500ml) at £2.49, which at 12.4p per 100ml is actually not cheaper than water…

Tesco Value water 13p for 2 litres, Tesco brand lager (4×500ml) £2.39, or 12p per 100ml…

Asda Smart Price water, you guessed it, 13p per 2 litres. Asda’s Hollandia lager (4×440ml) £2.00, still comfortably more expensive at 11.4p per 100ml.

I’m sure Morrissons prices will be comparable, but their site is so dreadful that there’s no way of knowing without traipsing up there and fighting through the Christmas shoppers. (Dick Puddlecote)

As Dick Puddlecote points out, the alcohol which is “cheaper than water” isn’t really alcohol at all. I defy anyone to drink the piss-water that is sold under the Smart Price, Basics, or Value range labels, let alone to get drunk on it. I tried once at uni, it was horrific.

It really is about time that this “alcohol is cheaper than water” crap to die, and alongside it the “cheal alcohol fuels binge drinking” rubbish.