Government to reject proposals to set minimum prices for alcohol

• Chief medical officer suggests 50p per unit
• Minister would not 'want to punish the majority'

The government is set to ignore controversial proposals from the chief medical officer to establish a minimum price for alcohol which would double the price of many beers and spirits.

Politicians in England and Wales are wary - with a general election little more than a year away - of committing themselves to doubling drinks prices. Plans to charge a minimum of 50p per unit of alcohol are to be put forward by Sir Liam Donaldson today.

The Scottish government is planning to introduce minimum prices for alcohol and these could come into force by the end of the year. It would make Scotland the first country in Europe to introduce minimum pricing, which would be accompanied by a ban on certain drinks promotions.

A Commons committee is to investigate the price of alcohol as part of a wider inquiry and call for evidence from Scotland. Labour MP Kevin Barron, chairman of the commons health committee, said the idea at least deserved consideration even if it proved unpopular with voters.

The proposals for England and Wales, which are backed by health professionals but opposed by drink manufacturers, could double the cost of some beverages sold as "loss leaders" by supermarkets.

It would double the cost of a £10 pack of lager, nearly double the cost of a bottle of vodka to £20 and set the minimum price for a bottle of wine at £4.50.

The Department of Health indicated there was little prospect of the proposal being adopted in England while households were being squeezed by the recession.

It is set to be outlined in Donaldson's annual report on the state of the nation's health tomorrow amid continued concern about the effects of heavy drinking.

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics, an independent body that examines ethical issues in health, backed the proposal, saying increasing prices was the most effective way of cutting consumption.

Drink-related illnesses cost the NHS £3bn a year, while the total expense to the taxpayer of alcohol misuse is thought to be £25bn a year.

But there was also strong opposition to the idea from those who argue that responsible drinkers would be punished for the misbehaviour of a few.

David Poley, the chief executive of the Portman Group, set up by drinks manufacturers to promote sensible drinking, said: "This would hit the pockets of hard-working families who are already struggling to make ends meet, and it would not deter those people who drink to get drunk."

Jeremy Beadles, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, which represents wine and spirits producers and wholesalers, said: "It is worrying that in the midst of a recession when sales and consumption of alcohol are falling that the government should be talking about raising prices for all consumers at a time when many are already struggling to make ends meet."

James Purnell, the work and pensions secretary, said yesterday the government would not punish the responsible majority of drinkers.

He told the BBC1's The Politics Show: "We want to focus on the irresponsible minority rather than I think punishing everyone equally. Clearly we will look at Sir Liam Donaldson's proposals. He's a very eminent person in his field.

"But we are very clear we don't want to punish the majority for the sins of the minority. I think certainly at a time of economic difficulty that looks like it would be the effect.

"We need to look at the proposals but we are saying we have no intention of going ahead with something that would punish the responsible majority."

The shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Sir Liam Donaldson's report is a frank admission that the government's alcohol strategy has failed. The government's response to his report is another example of Labour's confusion and incoherence.





The Liberal Democrats also said "ridiculously" cheap alcohol was contributing to the problem of binge-drinking and called on the government to act.

How prices may rise

Stella Artois

10 x 440ml cans (2.25 units per can) £8.99 (Threshers)

Proposed minimum price £11.20 (£1.12 per can)

Bottle of Imperial Vodka

70cl (27 units) £8.99

Proposed price £13.50

Bottle of Jacob's Creek Shiraz

(9.4 units) £6.99

Proposed price £4.70

Bacardi Breezer Raspberry

4x 275ml bottles (1.5 units each) £2.78 (Tesco)

Proposed price £3

Strongbow Cider

2litre bottle (10 units) £2.70 (Tesco)

Proposed price £5

• This article was amended on Tuesday 17 March 2009. We previously referred to the The Nuffield Council on Bioethics as "Nuffield". This has been corrected.

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