Minimum alcohol price plans to be unveiled

16th March 2009, 10:09am

Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson is set to unveil new plans, which if approved, will see minimum prices for alcohol introduced.

Media reports over the weekend suggest that the government's top medical adviser believes consumers should pay for alcoholic drinks based on the number of units it contains.

The plans will propose a minimum of 50p per unit. This means an average bottle of wine would not be sold for less than £4.50.

Sir Liam Donaldson will say: "There is a clear relationship between price and consumption of alcohol. As price increases consumption decreases, although not equally across all drinkers. Price increases generally reduce heavy drinkers' consumption by a greater proportion than they reduce moderate drinkers' consumption."

He also described the introduction of minimum prices as an immediate priority.

Supermarkets, pubs, bars, restaurants and clubs would all be eligible for the pricing scheme.

But the plans to be put forward by Sir Liam Donaldson have been widely dismissed by government ministers already.

James Purnell, minister for work and pensions told the BBC's Sunday Politics Show that the government had no plans to charge consumers more for alcohol: "We need to look at the proposals, but we're saying we have no intention of going ahead with something that would punish the responsible majority."

Alcohol related incidents cost the NHS an estimated £3 billion every year.

Related Articles:

• 02 Sep 2010 - Minimum alcohol price for Scotland to be set at 45p
• 08 Jan 2010 - Westminster MPs echo Scotland's backing of minimum pricing for alcohol
• 05 Nov 2009 - Minimum alcohol pricing will target cheap supermarket products
• 18 Mar 2009 - New figures show 3.2% fall in alcohol consumption
• 17 Mar 2009 - Drinks industry leaders meet with the Chancellor
• 13 Mar 2009 - Taxation on pubs has gone too far, says Wetherspoon
• 12 Mar 2009 - 30,000 people support local pubs
• 04 Mar 2009 - Record number of pubs closing
• 26 Feb 2009 - Tories want to save the great British pub
• 20 Feb 2009 - Lower alcoholic drinks sales are booming
• 10 Feb 2009 - Over 100 MPs back the great British pub
• 23 Jan 2009 - 99p pint is a 'disappointment'

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