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| Medics back cheap booze clampdown | Medics back cheap booze clampdown |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Outlawing low-price alcohol is essential to tackle the nation's problem drinking, many doctors and nurses believe. | Outlawing low-price alcohol is essential to tackle the nation's problem drinking, many doctors and nurses believe. |
| In a poll, 80% thought hiking up the cost would curb people's drinking. | In a poll, 80% thought hiking up the cost would curb people's drinking. |
| The same proportion says current alcohol strategies are failing and wants a different approach. | The same proportion says current alcohol strategies are failing and wants a different approach. |
| The findings from the Royal Colleges of Nursing and Physicians support calls by England's Chief Medical Officer for minimum alcohol prices. | The findings from the Royal Colleges of Nursing and Physicians support calls by England's Chief Medical Officer for minimum alcohol prices. |
| Sir Liam Donaldson wants a minimum price of 50p for each unit of alcohol a drink contains - taking the price of an average six pack of lager to £6.00. | Sir Liam Donaldson wants a minimum price of 50p for each unit of alcohol a drink contains - taking the price of an average six pack of lager to £6.00. |
| We have not ruled out taking action on very cheap alcohol Department of Health spokeswoman | We have not ruled out taking action on very cheap alcohol Department of Health spokeswoman |
| But Prime Minister Gordon Brown has expressed concerns about raising the price of alcohol, saying it could unfairly penalise moderate drinkers. | But Prime Minister Gordon Brown has expressed concerns about raising the price of alcohol, saying it could unfairly penalise moderate drinkers. |
| The poll of 205 healthcare professionals who deal with people affected by drinking found strong support for such an approach, with 73% saying action on low-priced alcohol was needed to tackle alcohol-related problems. | The poll of 205 healthcare professionals who deal with people affected by drinking found strong support for such an approach, with 73% saying action on low-priced alcohol was needed to tackle alcohol-related problems. |
| And nine out of 10 agreed that all alcohol products should be labelled with unit information and sensible drinking guidelines. | And nine out of 10 agreed that all alcohol products should be labelled with unit information and sensible drinking guidelines. |
| Alcohol toll | Alcohol toll |
| When it came to the care of people who abuse alcohol, 71% said more resources were needed for treatment, and 88% said funding had not kept up with demand or services were suffering from under-investment. | When it came to the care of people who abuse alcohol, 71% said more resources were needed for treatment, and 88% said funding had not kept up with demand or services were suffering from under-investment. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
| Long waiting lists for assessment meant people were falling through the gaps, they added. | Long waiting lists for assessment meant people were falling through the gaps, they added. |
| The Royal College of Nursing's Dr Peter Carter said: "Nurses have said time and time again that the government must take more drastic action to tackle the growing issue of alcohol misuse. | The Royal College of Nursing's Dr Peter Carter said: "Nurses have said time and time again that the government must take more drastic action to tackle the growing issue of alcohol misuse. |
| "Better regulation of the labelling, sale and advertising of alcoholic drinks, as well as widespread education on the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption, is needed to curb this significant problem." | "Better regulation of the labelling, sale and advertising of alcoholic drinks, as well as widespread education on the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption, is needed to curb this significant problem." |
| A spokesman for the British Medical Association said there was good evidence that pricing affects how much people drink. | A spokesman for the British Medical Association said there was good evidence that pricing affects how much people drink. |
| "So this area needs to be considered," he said. | "So this area needs to be considered," he said. |
| Unfair penalty | Unfair penalty |
| Data released last year showed that the annual cost to the NHS of drinking tops £2.7 billion a year. | Data released last year showed that the annual cost to the NHS of drinking tops £2.7 billion a year. |
| This includes more than £1 billion spent on treating people in hospital due to alcohol, £372 million on ambulance journeys and £646 million on A&E visits. | This includes more than £1 billion spent on treating people in hospital due to alcohol, £372 million on ambulance journeys and £646 million on A&E visits. |
| Action on price would punish hard-working families without deterring the irresponsible minority David Poley of the Portman Group | Action on price would punish hard-working families without deterring the irresponsible minority David Poley of the Portman Group |
| The total cost has jumped around £1 billion since figures were last compiled in 2003. | The total cost has jumped around £1 billion since figures were last compiled in 2003. |
| Around 10 million people in England are thought to drink more than the government's recommended limits, which are no more than two to three units a day for women and three to four for men. | Around 10 million people in England are thought to drink more than the government's recommended limits, which are no more than two to three units a day for women and three to four for men. |
| Last year, research published by Sheffield University - and commissioned by the Department of Health - concluded that increasing the price of alcohol would be one of the most effective measures to tackle alcohol abuse. | Last year, research published by Sheffield University - and commissioned by the Department of Health - concluded that increasing the price of alcohol would be one of the most effective measures to tackle alcohol abuse. |
| Professor Alan Maryon-Davis, president of the UK Faculty of Public Health, said: ""Hospital staff see the tragic consequences of cheap booze day after day. | |
| "Their views add powerfully to the gathering case for a minimum price for alcohol." | |
| A spokeswoman for the Department of Health 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 spokeswoman for the Department of Health 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. |
| "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." |
| David Poley, chief executive of the Portman Group, whose firms represent around 60% of the UK alcohol market, said: "Action on price would punish hard-working families without deterring the irresponsible minority. | David Poley, chief executive of the Portman Group, whose firms represent around 60% of the UK alcohol market, said: "Action on price would punish hard-working families without deterring the irresponsible minority. |
| "Success tackling drink-driving shows that cultural change can be achieved through sustained campaigning and proper law enforcement." | "Success tackling drink-driving shows that cultural change can be achieved through sustained campaigning and proper law enforcement." |
| The Wine and Spirit Trade Association agreed. | The Wine and Spirit Trade Association agreed. |
| Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Our proposals, which include measures to tackle loss-leader promotions and higher taxes on high-alcohol drinks aimed at young people, would address this without penalising the majority of moderate drinkers." | Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Our proposals, which include measures to tackle loss-leader promotions and higher taxes on high-alcohol drinks aimed at young people, would address this without penalising the majority of moderate drinkers." |