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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Call to halt cheap alcohol offers | Call to halt cheap alcohol offers |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The government needs to introduce tougher measures to limit the sale of cheap alcohol, doctors warn. | The government needs to introduce tougher measures to limit the sale of cheap alcohol, doctors warn. |
| Supermarket giant Tesco backed the calls for legislation, saying current competition laws prevented retailers from artificially raising prices. | Supermarket giant Tesco backed the calls for legislation, saying current competition laws prevented retailers from artificially raising prices. |
| A report by the British Medical Association says the pricing and promotion of drinks is fuelling an alcohol epidemic. | A report by the British Medical Association says the pricing and promotion of drinks is fuelling an alcohol epidemic. |
| The government is due to carry out research into the issue this year. | The government 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. |
| It also said the drink drive limit should be reduced. | 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 Concern class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4327&edition=1">Send us your comments | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | "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." |