Health bodies back minimum unit pricing on alcohol but call for more action

17 May 2012

The Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA) has submit its response to the public consultation on the Government’s Alcohol Strategy for England and Wales. The response expresses strong support for plans to introduce a minimum unit price (MUP) and a ban on multi-buy deals for alcohol products.

The Alliance, which consists of leading medical bodies and charities, including the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, welcomes the move to target cheap alcohol that is linked to health and social problems. The AHA says a minimum price would target the heaviest drinkers and individuals who drink moderately should not be affected.

However, the AHA believes the Government should go further in its proposals and set the MUP level at 50p, instead of the proposed 45p. Evidence suggests this would save more lives and prevent more crime.

The AHA also welcomes the proposal to allow local authorities to take the health harms of alcohol into account when determining the density of licensed premises in their area. However, it calls on the Government to go further, arguing that public health should be a licensing objective in its own right.

Contact: media@rcpsg.ac.uk
0141 221 6072

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