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| Plans for minimum alcohol price | Plans for minimum alcohol price |
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| The government's top medical adviser has drawn up plans for a minimum price for alcohol which would double the cost of some drinks in England. | The government's top medical adviser has drawn up plans for a minimum price for alcohol which would double the cost of some drinks in England. |
| Under the proposal from Sir Liam Donaldson, it has been reported that no drinks could be sold for less than 50 pence per unit of alcohol they contain. | Under the proposal from Sir Liam Donaldson, it has been reported that no drinks could be sold for less than 50 pence per unit of alcohol they contain. |
| It would mean most bottles of wine could not be sold for less than £4.50. | It would mean most bottles of wine could not be sold for less than £4.50. |
| Cabinet minister Douglas Alexander said the government would consider what Sir Liam had to say in his report. | |
| Sir Liam's proposal is aimed at tackling alcohol misuse and is set out in his annual report on the nation's health. | Sir Liam's proposal is aimed at tackling alcohol misuse and is set out in his annual report on the nation's health. |
| This would hit the pockets of hard-working families who are already struggling to make ends meet David Poley, Portman Group | This would hit the pockets of hard-working families who are already struggling to make ends meet David Poley, Portman Group |
| The BBC's health correspondent Adam Brimelow said Sir Liam's recommendation would not automatically become government policy. | The BBC's health correspondent Adam Brimelow said Sir Liam's recommendation would not automatically become government policy. |
| But he said Sir Liam was influential and had advocated a ban on smoking in public places long before it became law. | But he said Sir Liam was influential and had advocated a ban on smoking in public places long before it became law. |
| Our correspondent added that recent research from the Department of Health had shown that a minimum of 50 pence per unit of alcohol would reduce consumption by almost 7%. | Our correspondent added that recent research from the Department of Health had shown that a minimum of 50 pence per unit of alcohol would reduce consumption by almost 7%. |
| A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "We have not ruled out taking action on very cheap alcohol - it's clearly linked to people drinking more and the subsequent harm to their health. | A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "We have not ruled out taking action on very cheap alcohol - it's clearly linked to people drinking more and the subsequent harm to their health. |
| Industry opposed | Industry opposed |
| "Any decisions we make will take into account their wider economic impact during this difficult time. | "Any decisions we make will take into account their wider economic impact during this difficult time. |
| "It would be wrong to make sweeping changes without consideration of all the options suggested by our research published in December. | "It would be wrong to make sweeping changes without consideration of all the options suggested by our research published in December. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYThe way forward is to tackle the causes of alcohol addiction - raising the price would simply exacerbate the problemIan Cheese, London, UKSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYThe way forward is to tackle the causes of alcohol addiction - raising the price would simply exacerbate the problemIan Cheese, London, UKSend us your comments |
| "We need to do more work on this to make sure any action we take is appropriate, fair and effective." | "We need to do more work on this to make sure any action we take is appropriate, fair and effective." |
| Carys Davis of Alcohol Concern said that setting a minimum price for alcohol would help deter youngsters from binge drinking. | Carys Davis of Alcohol Concern said that setting a minimum price for alcohol would help deter youngsters from binge drinking. |
| She said: "It tends to bring up the prices of the alcoholic drinks that are drunk by harmful and very young drinkers, whereas you'll find that moderate drinkers tend not to really see a negligible financial effect. | She said: "It tends to bring up the prices of the alcoholic drinks that are drunk by harmful and very young drinkers, whereas you'll find that moderate drinkers tend not to really see a negligible financial effect. |
| "So for the price that Liam Donaldson is suggesting - which is 50 pence per unit minimum - moderate drinkers will spend on average about eleven pounds eighty per year more on their alcohol and they'll see a consumption drop slightly as well" | "So for the price that Liam Donaldson is suggesting - which is 50 pence per unit minimum - moderate drinkers will spend on average about eleven pounds eighty per year more on their alcohol and they'll see a consumption drop slightly as well" |
| But the Portman Group, set up by drinks manufacturers to promote sensible drinking, said it opposed the plan. class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/7917824.stm">Scots plan on cheap alcohol | |
| Portman chief executive David Poley told The Sunday Telegraph: "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." | Portman chief executive David Poley told The Sunday Telegraph: "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." |
| Earlier this month the Scottish government published plans for a minimum price per unit of alcohol, which is strongly opposed by retailers and the drinks industry. No price threshold was set. | Earlier this month the Scottish government published plans for a minimum price per unit of alcohol, which is strongly opposed by retailers and the drinks industry. No price threshold was set. |
| Setting a minimum price could have a particular impact on "own brand" or "value pack" beers and ciders. | Setting a minimum price could have a particular impact on "own brand" or "value pack" beers and ciders. |
| Sir Liam's report is due to be published on Monday. The proposals as they stand do not apply to Wales or Northern Ireland. | Sir Liam's report is due to be published on Monday. The proposals as they stand do not apply to Wales or Northern Ireland. |
| Hospital admissions | Hospital admissions |
| Ministers are determined to tackle the problem of alcohol misuse, which impacts on health, crime and anti-social behaviour. | Ministers are determined to tackle the problem of alcohol misuse, which impacts on health, crime and anti-social behaviour. |
| The NHS bill for alcohol abuse is an estimated £2.7bn a year. | The NHS bill for alcohol abuse is an estimated £2.7bn a year. |
| The most recent figures show hospital admissions linked to alcohol use have more than doubled in England since 1995. | The most recent figures show hospital admissions linked to alcohol use have more than doubled in England since 1995. |
| Alcohol was the main or secondary cause of 207,800 NHS admissions in 2006/7, compared to 93,500 in 1995/96. | Alcohol was the main or secondary cause of 207,800 NHS admissions in 2006/7, compared to 93,500 in 1995/96. |
| The figures include hospital admissions for a specific alcohol-related condition - such as liver disease, but also admissions where alcohol is a contributory factor but not the main cause - such as falls due to drunkenness. | The figures include hospital admissions for a specific alcohol-related condition - such as liver disease, but also admissions where alcohol is a contributory factor but not the main cause - such as falls due to drunkenness. |
| Of hospital admissions in 2006/7 specifically due to an alcohol-related diagnosis, almost one in 10 were in under 18 year olds. | Of hospital admissions in 2006/7 specifically due to an alcohol-related diagnosis, almost one in 10 were in under 18 year olds. |
| The number of alcohol-related deaths in England has doubled since the early 1990s to nearly 9,000 a year. | The number of alcohol-related deaths in England has doubled since the early 1990s to nearly 9,000 a year. |