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Call to halt cheap alcohol offers Call to halt cheap alcohol offers
(about 7 hours later)
Shops and pubs should stop cheap alcohol promotions and ministers should use the tax system to curb drinking, doctors are expected to say. The government needs to introduce tougher measures to limit the sale of cheap alcohol, doctors warn.
The British Medical Association is to publish a report on how the way drinks are sold fuels the "alcohol epidemic". Supermarket giant Tesco backed the calls for legislation, saying current competition laws prevented retailers from artificially raising prices.
It is likely to call for a curtailing of happy hours in pubs and cut-price deals in supermarkets. A report by the British Medical Association says the pricing and promotion of drinks is fuelling an alcohol epidemic.
Supermarket giant Tesco says it is willing to work with the government on tackling the problem of cheap alcohol. The government is due to carry out research into the issue this year.
But the company stressed it was "too simplistic" to claim alcohol-related problems were down to price alone.
The government has already promised to take action and is due to carry out research into the issue this year.
The BMA report is based on placing greater restrictions on the availability and access to alcohol.The BMA report is based on placing greater restrictions on the availability and access to alcohol.
The organisation has already spoken out about the cheap deals used by supermarkets and pubs to entice customers. It also said the drink drive limit should be reduced.
The fact of the matter is price plays a crucial determinant of how much we drink Don Shenker, of Alcohol ConcernThe fact of the matter is price plays a crucial determinant of how much we drink Don Shenker, of Alcohol Concern
A spokeswoman said: "The BMA believes the UK is in the midst of an epidemic and tough action is needed to tackle alcohol misuse, which is spiralling out of control."A spokeswoman said: "The BMA believes the UK is in the midst of an epidemic and tough action is needed to tackle alcohol misuse, which is spiralling out of control."
Alcohol consumption has been rising steadily for the past 15 years, with figures suggesting a third of men and a fifth of women drink more than the recommended levels each week.Alcohol consumption has been rising steadily for the past 15 years, with figures suggesting a third of men and a fifth of women drink more than the recommended levels each week.
Alcohol-related deaths have more than doubled since 1991 to over 8,700 a year.Alcohol-related deaths have more than doubled since 1991 to over 8,700 a year.
In contrast, the cost of beer and wine has remained relatively stable, meaning in real terms it has got cheaper as income has increased.In contrast, the cost of beer and wine has remained relatively stable, meaning in real terms it has got cheaper as income has increased.
The Health Alcohol Alliance, which represents 24 health groups, published a report last year which suggested a 10% rise in alcohol prices could cut deaths by up to a third.The Health Alcohol Alliance, which represents 24 health groups, published a report last year which suggested a 10% rise in alcohol prices could cut deaths by up to a third.
'Too simplistic''Too simplistic'
However, Tesco said it was too simplistic to blame price alone for binge drinking and other alcohol-related problems.
Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Tesco's executive director for corporate and legal affairs, said action would have to come from the government.
She said: "We can't put up our prices because people will simply shop elsewhere - it could be commercial suicide - and we can't act together to put up prices because that would be against competition law.
"Supermarkets are not allowed to act together to put up prices because that would be bad for the consumer."
Don Shenker, Alcohol Concern's director of policy and services, said: "Ministers and civil servants are no doubt committed to bringing down alcohol-related harms, but it can sometimes seem from the outside that they're ducking the big choices.Don Shenker, Alcohol Concern's director of policy and services, said: "Ministers and civil servants are no doubt committed to bringing down alcohol-related harms, but it can sometimes seem from the outside that they're ducking the big choices.
"The fact of the matter is price is a crucial determinant of how much we drink.""The fact of the matter is price is a crucial determinant of how much we drink."
But he also said treatment services for dependent drinkers were underfunded.But he also said treatment services for dependent drinkers were underfunded.
The government published an alcohol harm reduction strategy in 2004, but it mainly concentrated on improving treatment, raising awareness and enforcing drinking laws.The government published an alcohol harm reduction strategy in 2004, but it mainly concentrated on improving treatment, raising awareness and enforcing drinking laws.
Last year a follow up report promised to review the "evidence on the relationship between alcohol, price, promotion and harm".Last year a follow up report promised to review the "evidence on the relationship between alcohol, price, promotion and harm".
A Department of Health spokesman said: "The research team from the University of Sheffield has been selected and we expect initial findings in the summer."A Department of Health spokesman said: "The research team from the University of Sheffield has been selected and we expect initial findings in the summer."