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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Alcohol plans set to be unveiled | Alcohol plans set to be unveiled |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Plans to set minimum prices for alcohol are expected to be unveiled by the government's top medical adviser. | Plans to set minimum prices for alcohol are expected to be unveiled by the government's top medical adviser. |
| Chief Medical Officer for England, Sir Liam Donaldson, will publish his annual report on Monday morning. | Chief Medical Officer for England, Sir Liam Donaldson, will publish his annual report on Monday morning. |
| It has been widely reported he will call for minimum prices based on the units of alcohol drinks contain. | It has been widely reported he will call for minimum prices based on the units of alcohol drinks contain. |
| But so far the plans have not attracted the support of ministers who say they have no intention of punishing the "responsible majority". | But so far the plans have not attracted the support of ministers who say they have no intention of punishing the "responsible majority". |
| Sir Liam's proposals could mean most bottles of wine could not be sold for less than £4.50. | Sir Liam's proposals could mean most bottles of wine could not be sold for less than £4.50. |
| Mixed reception | Mixed reception |
| The Department of Health said it had not ruled out taking action on very cheap alcohol. | The Department of Health said it had not ruled out taking action on very cheap alcohol. |
| But the work and pensions minister James Purnell told the BBC on Sunday that the government was unwilling to raise the price of drink during a recession. | But the work and pensions minister James Purnell told the BBC on Sunday that the government was unwilling to raise the price of drink during a recession. |
| He said: "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." | He said: "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." |
| The Conservatives say it is important to deal with people's attitudes to drinking, not just supply and price, while the Liberal Democrats support putting an end to "pocket-money priced" alcohol. | The Conservatives say it is important to deal with people's attitudes to drinking, not just supply and price, while the Liberal Democrats support putting an end to "pocket-money priced" alcohol. |
| Sir Liam's idea has the backing of Alcohol Concern, but the drinks industry's Portman Group believes it would have a marginal effect on harmful drinkers. | Sir Liam's idea has the backing of Alcohol Concern, but the drinks industry's Portman Group believes it would have a marginal effect on harmful drinkers. |
| 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. |
| Scottish plans | |
| The Scottish Government has already proposed minimum pricing. | |
| Earlier this month SNP ministers put forward the suggestion to stop alcohol being sold a cut-price offers. | |
| If the plans were adopted, Scotland will become the first country in Europe to take such a measure. | |
| Both Wales and Northern Ireland have also expressed an interest in minimum pricing, while ministers in England have said they would not rule it out in the long-term. | |
| Last year, research published by Sheffield University - and commissioned by the Department of Health - concluded increasing the price of alcohol would be one of the most effective measures to tackle alcohol abuse. | |
| The report estimated that a 40p minimum price would reduce hospital admissions by 41,000 a year, saving the NHS £116m. |