Minimum alcohol pricing likely to be opposed

Politicians in England and Wales are unlikely to back proposals by chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol.

Donaldson has urged the Government to follow the example of Scotland and plan to bring in minimum pricing of 50p per alcoholic unit, a move that could double the price of both a lager multipack and a bottle of vodka and would set the minimum price of a bottle of wine at £4.50.

It is said drink-related illnesses cost the NHS about £3bn a year and Donaldson is expected to unveil his proposals when his annual report on the state of the nation's health is published tomorrow (Tuesday).

The Guardian reports today it is unlikely politicians in England and Wales will back the demands because it would prove unpopular with the public with a general election just over 12 months away.

David Poley, chief executive of the Portman Group industry watchdog, said: "This would hit the pockets of hard-working families who are already struggling to make ends meet and it would not deter those people who drink to get drunk."

Works and pensions secretary James Purnell virtually ruled out minimum pricing for England and Wales when he appeared on BBC's The Politics Show on Sunday. "We will look at the proposals but we are saying we have no intention of going ahead with something that would punish the responsible majority," he said.

The Scottish Government is pushing ahead with plans for minimum pricing, but its anti-alcohol proposals are likely to be opposed over the next few months by opposition parties north of the border. (from telegraph)

Would this solve the problem... somehow I do not think so, the UK already has the highest alcohol prices in Europe, yet has the biggest problems with it

I think it should be part of children's education, they teach sex education and drugs etc so why not the dangers of alcohol ...

why can't they leave people alone .this is ludicrous

Booze is not a drug! It's a drink!

Legalise it all and tax it to the hilt.

Putting the price up wont stop the nippers drinking they will get it from somewhere or other.What the should concentrate on is educating the staff at pubs and clubs more , and introducing bigger fines for letting their punters get so drunk they cannot control themselves and more policing.

Most pubs are responsible in how they serve their customers but there are a few that will continue until someone drops on the floor and they should be dealt with, this legislation would not affect pubs ast the cost per measure is already well over the 50p, in fact it would probably helt as it would close the gap between drinking at home and going down the pub.

One problem that has developed in recent years is the idea of drinking at home early evening then going out later to finish off the night plastered.