Campaigners urge Government to act over minimum pricing for alcohol

2:55pm Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Barry Nelson, Health Editor

Balance, the North-East Alcohol Office has urged the Government to stand firm on minimum unit pricing Balance, the North-East Alcohol Office has urged the Government to stand firm on minimum unit pricing

THE North-East campaign group which has been one of the loudest voices in the call for action over cheap booze has urged the Government to stand firm on minimum unit pricing.

The call by Balance, the North-East Alcohol Office, follows reports of a Cabinet split which could mean that minimum alcohol pricing is going to be shelved.

Prime Minister David Cameron today insisted he remains determined to crack down on problem drinking.

He said the Government was still examining the results of a consultation on the policy amid mounting speculation the move he personally championed will be abandoned.

A base price of 45p per unit in England and Wales has been suggested but a number of Cabinet ministers, including Home Secretary Theresa May, have made clear they harbour doubts.

Colin Shevills, director of Balance, said: "We congratulate the Government for looking at the strong evidence to support minimum unit pricing and proposing to introduce this targeted policy that promises to save thousands of lives and prevent tens of thousands of crimes.

"Here in the North-East we know that it is needed and it is wanted - evidence also tells us that it works. Our region continues to suffer from some of the highest levels of alcohol harm. 

"Importantly most people in the region have backed call for the introduction of a minimum unit price.

"It is supported by the majority of the North-East public, it is supported by our GPs, it is supported by our police and it is supported our publicans.

"Doctors, the police, emergency services and leading children's charities all publically endorse MUP, and recent public opinion polls show the majority of people support tough action on alcohol too.

"We urge the Government to stand firm on minimum unit pricing in the confidence that the evidence gets stronger, and the support base wider, for this policy by the day."

Kevan Martin, a former alcholic who set up a highly successful support network for problem drinkers known as NERAF (Northern Engagement into Recovery from Addiction), said minimum pricing was needed to stop young people buying alchohol "for pocket money prices."

Otherwise "It is going to be an ever increasing burden to health, crime and society," he added.

Liver specialist Dr Steve Masson, from the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, said it would be "a missed opportunity" if the Government failed to bring in minimum pricing.

Comments(5)

frankyboy says...
5:28pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Yet again on this issue, we have a totally one-sided article from the Echo.

If the Cabinet split on this issue means that this policy will be binned, then this is fantastic news for the low-paid, the pensioners and other poorer members of our Region. Remember, it is the poorest members of our Region that would be hit the hardest by this minimum price tax. Highly paid (by the taxpayer) executives like Mr Shevills would not be affected at all.

Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) is anything but a 'targeted' measure, as it will apply to the entire population and will not 'target' any alleged problem.

Colin Shevills of 'Balance' says "It is supported by the majority of the North-East public,"
I cannot see how that statement can be anything other than a blatant lie. His recent petition gained only 15,000 signatures which is 0.00% of the North East population. I'm not that good at maths but I'd suggest that 0.00% is a low percentage, and nowhere near a 'majority'.

I really do hope, for all our sakes, that the Tories do cancel this nanny-state price/tax proposal, as it would hit far more responsible drinkers than those who have a real problem. The majority of the public are clearly against this, and a few vested interest groups should not be able to dictate to the majority of us how we should live our lives.

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NO EINSTEIN says...
6:51pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Government tos------ers i have a few beers, yes a few beers at night to forget how they are destroying this country, and they now want to stop this mind block, bring on the revolution.

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argo2013 says...
7:56pm Wed 13 Mar 13

So you believe all the rubbish from the drink industry.

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Graeme_r says...
12:08am Thu 14 Mar 13

The medical fraternity seem to think they are educational Psychologists as well as physicians - but they are simply oblivious to the mindset of people who think binge drinking is cool. They keep talking about the minimum price per unit for alcohol asserting that it is fact, a given for reducing alcohol consumption without any credible evidence, This is a cultural problem. In continental Europe binge drinking is frowned upon, not glamourised, drink is cheaper and there aren't the problems there that we have. A hardened drinker will seek to maintain consumption unless they can be made to change their ways. Many will already be paying more than the notional 45p a unit. Those that aren't will sacrifice spending on food or other items to maintain their consumption. A different approach is needed, not a continuation of the nanny state.

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Voice-of-reality says...
11:06pm Thu 14 Mar 13

No doubt the budget will move duty towards 45p per unit.

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