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UK: Gov't doctor calls for alcohol minimum price
16 March, 2009
England: The Government’s top medical advisor is to call for a minimum price per unit on alcohol.
England: The Government’s top medical advisor has called for a minimum price per unit on alcohol. But Prime Minister Gordon Brown and leader of the opposition David Cameron gave a luke warm response to the idea.
England’s chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson called for a 50p per unit minimum. This would mean a standard bottle of wine would be sold for no less than £4.50 and a two litre bottle of cider for no less than £5.50.
Some Government ministers have said the proposal would penalise the “responsible majority”.
Earlier this month, the Scottish Government announced similar plans in an attempt to curb cut-price alcohol sales.
A study commissioned by the Department of Health and carried out by Sheffield University estimated that a 40p minimum price would reduce hospital admissions by 41,000 per annum.
