Government proposess a minimum alcohol price

The government is proposing a minimum price of 40p per unit of alcohol in England and Wales in an effort to stamp out binge-drinking culture.

Ministers say the proposal would not affect responsible pubs or drinkers.

But they predict that it could significantly change the behaviour of those who cause the most problems for hospitals and the police, by making it more expensive to get drunk.

Similar proposals are already being considered by the Scottish Parliament.

The drinks industry said the proposal was misguided and would hit consumers hard.

Under the proposal, a minimum price, such as the proposed 40p per unit, would act as a floor and retailers would not be allowed to offer alcohol below that level.

In effect, it would not alter the price of most drinks but could significantly alter the price of heavily discounted ciders, super-strength lager and cheap spirits.

Prime Minister David Cameron said the government wanted to reverse a drinking culture that last year contributed to one million alcohol-related violent crimes and 1.2 million hospital admissions.

Mr Cameron said: "Binge drinking isn't some fringe issue, it accounts for half of all alcohol consumed in this country. The crime and violence it causes drains resources in our hospitals, generates mayhem on our streets and spreads fear in our communities.

"We can't go on like this. We have to tackle the scourge of violence caused by binge drinking and we have to do it now. So we're going to attack it from every angle."

Mr Cameron said cheap alcohol was the "root cause" of the problem, but he knew that minimum pricing would not be "universally popular".

"We're consulting on the actual price, but if it is 40p that could mean 50,000 fewer crimes each year and 900 fewer alcohol related deaths per year by the end of the decade.

"This isn't about stopping responsible drinking, adding burdens on business or some new kind of stealth tax - it's about fast immediate action where universal change is needed."

The government says it is considering banning buy-one-get-one-free deals but, at the same time, it will allow half-price promotions.

The strategy also includes a plan for a late-night levy to make clubs and pubs help pay for policing.

But the prime minister said the strategy could help pubs because minimum pricing would stop supermarkets offering cheaper alternatives.

Andrew Opie of the British Retail Consortium said the proposal was "seriously misguided".

"It's simplistic to imagine a minimum price is some sort of silver bullet solution to irresponsible drinking," he said.

"Irresponsible drinking has cultural causes and retailers have been hugely engaged in information and education to change attitudes to drinking.

"It's a myth to suggest that supermarkets are the problem or that a pub is somehow a safer drinking environment. Effectively, a minimum price is a tax on responsible drinkers."

Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, of the Royal College of Physicians and the Alcohol Health Alliance, welcomed the proposals.

"Health care workers who struggle every day to cope with the impact of our nation's unhealthy drinking will welcome tough new policies in areas such as price and licensing that are based on evidence and should bring about real benefits," he said.

Chief Constable Jon Stoddart, the lead on alcohol for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said: "Week in week out in town centres across the country the police have to deal with the consequences of cheap alcohol and irresponsible drinking.

"The growing trend for 'pre-loading' means that young people are often drunk before they even enter a bar.

"By the time they hit the streets at closing they are more likely to get involved in crime and disorder or injure themselves or others."

source:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17482035