Dismay at minimum pricing proposals

Tuesday, 18 January 2011 12:00 AM

By Alex Stevenson

Watered down proposals for introducing minimum pricing for alcohol will do little to help problem drinkers, experts have warned.

The government's proposals to prevent retailers from selling drinks at less than the value of the VAT and duty owed was described as an "important step" by one Whitehall source.

While it will stop the worst instances of price discounting, the proposal - which means weak lager can still be sold for just 38p - does not go far enough, according to campaigners.

"Duty is so low in the UK that it will still be possible to sell very cheap alcohol and be within the law," Don Shenker of Alcohol Concern explained.

"The government needs to look again at a minimum price per unit of alcohol. That is the only evidence-based approach that will end cheap discounts once and for all."

A minimum unit price of about 50p would prevent 3,000 deaths every year and 41,000 cases of chronic illness, Sheffield University researchers have claimed.

The Home Office proposes setting a lower minimum price of just 21p per unit of beer and 28p per unit of spirits.

Sir Ian Gilmore of the Royal College of Physicians told the BBC: "It's a step in the right direction but it's a very very small step. We believe in practice just a tiny fraction of cheap drink will get caught by this change.

"I don't think... [the supermarkets will] need to get round it. Even where they're heavily discounted, they will not fall below this level."

It is estimated that just one per cent of drinks are currently sold below the level of duty and VAT.

David Cameron had pledged to end "deep discounting on alcohol" before the election.

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