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Minimum alcohol price planned for England and Wales Minimum alcohol price planned for England and Wales
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The government is proposing a minimum price of 40p per unit of alcohol in England and Wales in an effort to "turn the tide" against binge drinking.The government is proposing a minimum price of 40p per unit of alcohol in England and Wales in an effort to "turn the tide" against binge drinking.
It believes this could transform the behaviour of those who cause the most problems for hospitals and police.It believes this could transform the behaviour of those who cause the most problems for hospitals and police.
A new alcohol strategy also aims to help local areas tackle problems and work with the drinks industry to encourage responsible drinking.A new alcohol strategy also aims to help local areas tackle problems and work with the drinks industry to encourage responsible drinking.
The industry said a minimum price was misguided and would hit consumers hard.The industry said a minimum price was 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 minimum price proposal, such as at the suggested 40p level, it would act as a floor and retailers would not be allowed to offer alcohol cheaper than that.
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. Sobriety schemes
The impact on prices could include: While most prices would be unaffected, it could significantly alter the price of heavily-discounted ciders, super-strength lager and cheap spirits.
The impact could include:
  • A £2.99 bottle of red wine, containing 9.4 units of alcohol, would be priced up to £3.76
  • Cheap, strong lager at 75p a can, with three units per can, would become at least £1.20
  • Bulk-bought strong cider, costing 87p a can and containing four units, would almost double to at least £1.60
  • Cheap supermarket whisky at £16.10, with 40 units of alcohol, would probably be unchanged in price
  • A £2.99 bottle of red wine, containing 9.4 units of alcohol, would be priced up to £3.76
  • Cheap, strong lager at 75p a can, with three units per can, would become at least £1.20
  • Bulk-bought strong cider, costing 87p a can and containing four units, would almost double to at least £1.60
  • Cheap supermarket whisky at £16.10, with 40 units of alcohol, would probably be unchanged in price
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. The alcohol strategy also seeks to give local agencies an "extensive range of tools and powers" to tackle problem drinkers and premises, such as by restricting opening hours and density of licensed premises.

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David Cameron is ignoring the conventional political advice about how to cheer up voters”
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It also plans to "end the notion that drinking is an unqualified right by piloting sobriety schemes for those people whose offending is linked to excessive alcohol consumption", says the strategy document.
Plans are outlined to work with the drinks industry on "changing the drinking culture, from one of excess to one of responsibility; and from one where alcohol is linked to bad behaviour to one where it is linked to positive 'socialising'".
Prime Minister David Cameron said the government wanted to turn around a drinking culture that last year had contributed to one million alcohol-related violent crimes and 1.2 million hospital admissions.
'Mayhem and fear'
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 10 million adults drinking more than they should.Consumption has doubled since the 1950s and there are now 10 million 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: "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."
He added: "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."He added: "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."
Home Secretary Theresa May said that just under the cheapest fifth of all alcohol sold would be affected by introducing the 40p minimum. Home Secretary Theresa May said that just under the cheapest fifth of all alcohol sold would be affected by introducing a 40p minimum.
"Too many people think it's a great night out to get really drunk and have a fight in our streets," she told BBC Breakfast."Too many people think it's a great night out to get really drunk and have a fight in our streets," she told BBC Breakfast.
"What we need to do is to set a price that is actually going to ensure that we don't damage responsible drinkers. People who like a drink or two, who like going down their local pub, have nothing to fear from this policy. "What we need to do is to set a price that is actually going to ensure that we don't damage responsible drinkers. People who like a drink or two, who like going down their local pub, have nothing to fear from this policy."
"But what we do want to do is to affect the cheapest end of alcohol, those sorts of offers that enable people to really do this 'pre-loading' - so many people now just get drunk at home before they go out, and that's what causes the problems in our town centres.
"They're the people causing the mayhem."
Attitude change
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.
Ministers say the minimum pricing could help pubs because it would stop supermarkets offering cheaper alternatives.Ministers say the minimum pricing could help pubs because it would stop supermarkets offering cheaper alternatives.

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 The strategy also includes a plan for a late-night levy to make clubs and pubs help pay for policing.
David Cameron is ignoring the conventional political advice about how to cheer up voters”
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Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the Labour Party supported the idea of a minimum unit price, subject to debate about where it should be set to ensure it worked.Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the Labour Party supported the idea of a minimum unit price, subject to debate about where it should be set to ensure it worked.
"The government needs to make sure it does not just create a cash windfall for the supermarkets, instead of lowering prices of other goods or supporting better prevention and treatment of alcohol abuse to cut crime further and save lives," she said."The government needs to make sure it does not just create a cash windfall for the supermarkets, instead of lowering prices of other goods or supporting better prevention and treatment of alcohol abuse to cut crime further and save lives," she said.
Andrew Opie, of the British Retail Consortium, said: "It's simplistic to imagine a minimum price is some sort of silver bullet solution to irresponsible drinking. However, Andrew Opie, of the British Retail Consortium, 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."
Gavin Partington, of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, said: "This is actually a measure that will punish the poorest in our society. So it's grossly unfair, and all this is is a PR stunt designed to distract from the real issue."
A set of policies was required to tackle irresponsible drinking by a minority of people, he said, adding that pricing changes alone would not be effective.
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."