This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-17482035
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Minimum alcohol price planned for England and Wales | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The government is proposing a minimum price of 40p per unit of alcohol in England and Wales in an effort to stamp out binge drinking. | |
| Ministers say the proposal would not affect responsible pubs or drinkers. | Ministers say the proposal would not affect responsible pubs or drinkers. |
| But they predict that it could significantly change the behaviour of those who cause the most problems for hospitals and the police, by making it more expensive to get drunk. | But they predict that it could significantly change the behaviour of those who cause the most problems for hospitals and the police, by making it more expensive to get drunk. |
| The drinks industry said the plans were misguided and would hit consumers hard. | |
| Similar proposals are already being considered by the Scottish Parliament. | Similar proposals are already being considered by the Scottish Parliament. |
| Under the proposal, a minimum price, such as the proposed 40p per unit, would act as a floor and retailers would not be allowed to offer alcohol below that level. | Under the proposal, a minimum price, such as the proposed 40p per unit, would act as a floor and retailers would not be allowed to offer alcohol below that level. |
| In effect, it would not alter the price of most drinks but could significantly alter the price of heavily discounted ciders, super-strength lager and cheap spirits. | In effect, it would not alter the price of most drinks but could significantly alter the price of heavily discounted ciders, super-strength lager and cheap spirits. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron said the government wanted to reverse a drinking culture that last year contributed to one million alcohol-related violent crimes and 1.2 million hospital admissions. | Prime Minister David Cameron said the government wanted to reverse a drinking culture that last year contributed to one million alcohol-related violent crimes and 1.2 million hospital admissions. |
| Mr Cameron said: "Binge drinking isn't some fringe issue, it accounts for half of all alcohol consumed in this country. The crime and violence it causes drains resources in our hospitals, generates mayhem on our streets and spreads fear in our communities. | Mr Cameron said: "Binge drinking isn't some fringe issue, it accounts for half of all alcohol consumed in this country. The crime and violence it causes drains resources in our hospitals, generates mayhem on our streets and spreads fear in our communities. |
| "We can't go on like this. We have to tackle the scourge of violence caused by binge drinking and we have to do it now. So we're going to attack it from every angle." | "We can't go on like this. We have to tackle the scourge of violence caused by binge drinking and we have to do it now. So we're going to attack it from every angle." |
| It is often said that alcohol is getting cheaper. That is not strictly true. | It is often said that alcohol is getting cheaper. That is not strictly true. |
| Over the last 25 years the price of booze has been rising at a faster rate than other goods and services. | Over the last 25 years the price of booze has been rising at a faster rate than other goods and services. |
| The problem is that disposable income has gone up more, meaning we have more money to spend on luxury items and many of us are choosing to use that on alcohol. | The problem is that disposable income has gone up more, meaning we have more money to spend on luxury items and many of us are choosing to use that on alcohol. |
| Consumption has doubled since the 1950s and there are now 10m adults drinking more than they should. | Consumption has doubled since the 1950s and there are now 10m adults drinking more than they should. |
| The effect can be seen across society. Alcohol-related hospital admissions, crime and disorder and absence from work are all higher than they were a decade ago. | The effect can be seen across society. Alcohol-related hospital admissions, crime and disorder and absence from work are all higher than they were a decade ago. |
| The hope is that setting a minimum price might alter that. | The hope is that setting a minimum price might alter that. |
| Unlike banning below-cost selling, which is being introduced in England and Wales in April to stop drinks being sold at less than the tax paid on them, it affects the majority of drinks sold outside pubs. | Unlike banning below-cost selling, which is being introduced in England and Wales in April to stop drinks being sold at less than the tax paid on them, it affects the majority of drinks sold outside pubs. |
| But does this stop people consuming too much? The evidence suggests it might. Modelling by Sheffield University in 2008 found increasing price reduces consumption most among hazardous and harmful drinkers. | But does this stop people consuming too much? The evidence suggests it might. Modelling by Sheffield University in 2008 found increasing price reduces consumption most among hazardous and harmful drinkers. |
| Mr Cameron said cheap alcohol was the "root cause" of the problem, but he knew that minimum pricing would not be "universally popular". | Mr Cameron said cheap alcohol was the "root cause" of the problem, but he knew that minimum pricing would not be "universally popular". |
| "We're consulting on the actual price, but if it is 40p that could mean 50,000 fewer crimes each year and 900 fewer alcohol related deaths per year by the end of the decade. | "We're consulting on the actual price, but if it is 40p that could mean 50,000 fewer crimes each year and 900 fewer alcohol related deaths per year by the end of the decade. |
| "This isn't about stopping responsible drinking, adding burdens on business or some new kind of stealth tax - it's about fast immediate action where universal change is needed." | "This isn't about stopping responsible drinking, adding burdens on business or some new kind of stealth tax - it's about fast immediate action where universal change is needed." |
| The government says it is considering banning buy-one-get-one-free deals but, at the same time, it will allow half-price promotions. | The government says it is considering banning buy-one-get-one-free deals but, at the same time, it will allow half-price promotions. |
| The strategy also includes a plan for a late-night levy to make clubs and pubs help pay for policing. | The strategy also includes a plan for a late-night levy to make clubs and pubs help pay for policing. |
| But the prime minister said the strategy could help pubs because minimum pricing would stop supermarkets offering cheaper alternatives. | But the prime minister said the strategy could help pubs because minimum pricing would stop supermarkets offering cheaper alternatives. |
| Andrew Opie of the British Retail Consortium said the proposal was "seriously misguided". | Andrew Opie of the British Retail Consortium said the proposal was "seriously misguided". |
| "It's simplistic to imagine a minimum price is some sort of silver bullet solution to irresponsible drinking," he said. | "It's simplistic to imagine a minimum price is some sort of silver bullet solution to irresponsible drinking," he said. |
| "Irresponsible drinking has cultural causes and retailers have been hugely engaged in information and education to change attitudes to drinking. | "Irresponsible drinking has cultural causes and retailers have been hugely engaged in information and education to change attitudes to drinking. |
| "It's a myth to suggest that supermarkets are the problem or that a pub is somehow a safer drinking environment. Effectively, a minimum price is a tax on responsible drinkers." | "It's a myth to suggest that supermarkets are the problem or that a pub is somehow a safer drinking environment. Effectively, a minimum price is a tax on responsible drinkers." |
| Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, of the Royal College of Physicians and the Alcohol Health Alliance, welcomed the proposals. | Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, of the Royal College of Physicians and the Alcohol Health Alliance, welcomed the proposals. |
| "Health care workers who struggle every day to cope with the impact of our nation's unhealthy drinking will welcome tough new policies in areas such as price and licensing that are based on evidence and should bring about real benefits," he said. | "Health care workers who struggle every day to cope with the impact of our nation's unhealthy drinking will welcome tough new policies in areas such as price and licensing that are based on evidence and should bring about real benefits," he said. |
| Chief Constable Jon Stoddart, the lead on alcohol for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said: "Week in week out in town centres across the country the police have to deal with the consequences of cheap alcohol and irresponsible drinking. | Chief Constable Jon Stoddart, the lead on alcohol for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said: "Week in week out in town centres across the country the police have to deal with the consequences of cheap alcohol and irresponsible drinking. |
| "The growing trend for 'pre-loading' means that young people are often drunk before they even enter a bar. | "The growing trend for 'pre-loading' means that young people are often drunk before they even enter a bar. |
| "By the time they hit the streets at closing they are more likely to get involved in crime and disorder or injure themselves or others." | "By the time they hit the streets at closing they are more likely to get involved in crime and disorder or injure themselves or others." |