Could a minimum price for alcohol reduce the misery caused by excessive drinking or would it punish moderate drinkers? Health Editor Barry Nelson talks to a North-East expert.

AFTER decades of watching patients die because of drink-related liver failure, Dr Chris Record is hopeful the tide may be about to turn.

The experienced liver specialist, who has worked at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, for many years, is deeply saddened at the human misery he witnesses because of people abusing alcohol.

He said: “I am appalled by the number of patients we see suffering from alcohol-related liver disease. Many are in their 30s and some are even in their 20s. Many of them will die prematurely because of their drinking.”

With the number of people admitted to hospital for drink-related illness steadily rising year after year, Dr Record has thrown his weight behind campaigns to curb excessive drinking.

Since 2003, he has headed the British Liver Society’s drive to persuade the drinks industry to adopt labelling that will tell consumers the strength of drinks and the maximum recommended number of units of alcohol they should drink.

Dr Record said that had been largely ignored by more than 90 per cent of the drinks industry and that it was time to get tough.

That is why he served on a panel of experts invited by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) – the national drug vetting agency, which advises the Government.

Dr Record strongly supports measures proposed by Nice this week in response to the growing number of people dying and becoming seriously ill as a result of abusing alcohol.

In a nutshell, Nice wants a minimum unit price introduced for alcohol, the Government to consider strict curbs on alcohol advertising because of its effect on children, and making alcohol less easy to buy.

Dr Record has spent the past 18 months finetuning the Nice proposals, which were produced in response to a set of shocking figures.

Nice says excessive drinking leads to 500,000 crimes, 17 million lost working days, 1.2 million violent incidents and nearly 15,000 alcohol-related deaths a year.

Dr Record said it was vital for people to realise that the proposals on minimum pricing would not affect the average moderate drinker.

BY introducing a minimum price per unit – the British Medical Association has suggested 50 pence – it should dramatically increase the price of cheap ciders and bottles of spirits sold at near-cost price by supermarkets.

Dr Record said: “What most people do not realise is that 80 per cent of all alcohol in the UK is purchased by 30 per cent of the population and it is this smaller group that is drinking at harmful levels.”

Dr Record argues that binges are fuelled by incredibly cheap booze, largely sold by supermarkets as loss-leaders.

He said moderate drinkers who pay more for their chosen tipple were also subsidising those who binge on cheap brands.

“Supermarkets are selling own-brand spirits such as gin, vodka and whisky for about £6.98 a bottle. The tax on that is £6.83, so it is being manufactured for 15p a bottle. It can’t be done, can it? It means that that produce is being subsidised by other products the supermarkets are selling. We want to see an end to this.”

Introducing a minimum 50p per unit would mean a bottle of wine would cost at least £4.50, a pint of four per cent strength beer would cost £1.14 and a ten-pack of beer would cost about £10. A two-litre bottle of cider would cost about £7.50.

Prof Mike Kelly, Nice’s public health director, said such a move would not penalise pubs, but would tackle the “aggressive promotion of heavily discounted alcohol” in supermarkets.

According to Nice, evidence suggests a 50p minimum price would lead to a 3.8 per cent cut in how much moderate drinkers consume and a 10.3 per cent cut for those drinking at hazardous levels.

For Dr Record, the other key area is the Nice recommendations on advertising.

He said: “There is very good evidence that advertising adversely affects children, and today’s children are tomorrow’s adults. Nice is calling on the Advertising Standards Authority to ensure that no children are exposed to alcohol advertising.”

Dr Record acknowledges that could lead to an almost total ban on drinks advertising.

David Poley, chief executive of the Portman Group, which represents the drinks industry, is sceptical about the Nice recommendations.

He said: “Unfortunately, they will not necessarily be effective in reducing consumption where it matters, which is among the minority of problem drinkers. This can only be achieved through sustained education, coupled with strong law enforcement.”

Andrew Opie, from the British Retail Consortium, said it was too simplistic to say the UK’s alcohol problems were down to price and said penalising all customers through minimum pricing was the wrong approach.

New Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said it was unclear that minimum pricing of alcohol was the best way to limit demand.

He said: “Supply and price are far from the only factors in driving alcohol misuse. Demand and attitudes are crucial. We need to understand much better the psychology behind why different groups of people drink alcohol in excess.”

Mr Lansley said everyone has to challenge negative social norms in society and promote the positives.

But Dr Record said a minimum price for alcohol was a sensible way to curb excessive drinking.

He said: “If you introduce a minimum price per unit, you will put up the price for the minority who are drinking too much. Price is the surest way to cut consumption.”

■ The Department of Health recommends that men should not regularly drink more than four units of alcohol a day and women more than three.