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Minimum alcohol pricing plan shelved Minimum alcohol pricing plan shelved
(about 1 hour later)
The government has shelved plans to introduce a minimum price for a unit of alcohol in England and Wales.The government has shelved plans to introduce a minimum price for a unit of alcohol in England and Wales.
Minister Jeremy Browne said the policy would remain "under consideration" but said there were fears the change would hit responsible drinkers. Minister Jeremy Browne said the policy would remain "under consideration" but there were fears the change would hit responsible drinkers.
A ban on multi-buy sales has also been rejected but sales will not be allowed below the cost of alcohol duty and VAT. A ban on multi-buy promotions has been rejected but sales will not be allowed below the cost of alcohol duty and VAT.
Labour said the government had done a U-turn on a flagship policy which both the PM and home secretary had backed. Labour said the government had done a U-turn on a flagship policy that both the PM and home secretary had backed.
Mr Browne said problem drinking turned towns and cities into effective "no-go areas" for many people, was seen as instrumental in nearly half of violent attacks in 2011-12 and cost the taxpayer £21bn a year in crime and health issues.Mr Browne said problem drinking turned towns and cities into effective "no-go areas" for many people, was seen as instrumental in nearly half of violent attacks in 2011-12 and cost the taxpayer £21bn a year in crime and health issues.
But he said while minimum alcohol pricing was still "under consideration" the government had decided it "will not be taken forward at this time". 'Concrete evidence'
There was not enough "concrete evidence" it could reduce the harmful effects of problem drinking without hurting those who drank responsibly. But he said there was not enough "concrete evidence" minimum pricing could reduce the harmful effects of problem drinking without hurting those who drank responsibly.
"We are not in the business of making laws that do not work," he said. The government had decided the policy "will not be taken forward at this time".
He said 34% of those who responded backed a 45p minimum unit price - but 56% had disagreed: "We consulted on it and we heard what people say." "We are not in the business of making laws that do not work. We consulted on it and we heard what people say," he said, pointing out that 34% of those who responded backed a 45p minimum unit price but 56% had disagreed.
But he said banning sales of alcohol below the cost of duty and VAT would mean a can of lager could not be sold for less than about 40p from spring 2014.
However, Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston, a GP, said that would have an "absolutely meaningless impact" and doctors would see the decision not to introduce a minimum price as removing the one tool that could help them reduce avoidable liver disease deaths.
For Labour, shadow minister Diana Johnson accused the government of "performing a U-turn on their flagship policy".
She said the consultation had never been about whether or not to introduce minimum unit pricing - it was about what level it should be set at.
Legal proceedings
She quoted David Cameron, who wrote in the foreword to the government's alcohol strategy: "I know this won't be universally popular. But the responsibility of being in government isn't always about doing the popular thing."
Ms Johnson said: "If it was the right thing to do then, why isn't it the right thing to do now?"
She said Labour had felt there were some issues that had to be addressed - particularly its compatibility with EU law and concerns it might result in a "windfall for supermarkets". But she said the party had offered to work with ministers to overcome these obstacles.
"Of course, now, [Conservative adviser] Lynton Crosby has ordered a U-turn, to 'get the barnacles off the boat', and minimum pricing along with most of the rest of the alcohol strategy as well as other important public health measures have been scrapped."
She said research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies showed a ban on the sale of alcohol below cost would raise the price of less than 1% of alcohol sold in shops mostly from discount stores, not supermarkets.
Asked what concrete evidence the government would require to reconsider the policy, Mr Browne said it was important to look at what happened in Canada and Scotland - including the outcome of legal proceedings being brought by the Scottish Whisky Association against plans for a minimum price there.
MSPs passed legislation to bring in minimum pricing in Scotland last year, setting a 50p unit price but the law will not be implemented until legal proceedings are complete.
Northern Ireland is yet to put forward a specific proposal, although it is reviewing pricing.
The prime minister had backed minimum alcohol pricing but said on Wednesday the decision had been made "by me, consulting my cabinet colleagues" - citing concerns over evidence it would work and possible legal challenges. However, he said the idea "had merit" and could be returned to in future.