9:14am Thursday 4th February 2010
By Barry Nelson
NORTH-EAST health bosses have called on the Government to bring in a minimum price for alcohol to curb the devastating impact of cheap drink.
The call to tackle cheap drink, which they say is having a devastating effect on the region, by setting a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol, is made in an open letter in The Northern Echo and The Daily Telegraph today.
Signed by all 13 North-East public health directors, it coincides with the publication of research by the North-East Alcohol Office, known as Balance.
It said alcohol was available in the region for as little as 12p a unit, with cans of lager on sale for 22p, a 70cl bottle of vodka for £6.98 and a two-litre bottle of cider costing less than a loaf of bread.
The letter says the cost to the North-East of alcohol-related harm is unsustainable and urges the Government to “act quickly and decisively and show the same political leadership that was shown on smoking in public places”.
The North-East NHS officials stress they do not wish to penalise moderate drinkers, pointing out that a minimum unit price of 50p means a minimum price of £1.50 for a pint or £4.50 for a bottle of wine.
The directors ask if this is too much to pay to cut deaths by a quarter, crimes by 46,000 and save the country £1bn every year.
As part of what Balance describes as a worrying trend for “super-low prices” the report reveals that a two-litre bottle of cider is available from three of the big four supermarkets for £1.21 – 14p per unit of alcohol – and is even cheaper at discount outlets.
Balance director Colin Shevills said: “Alcohol is being sold at pocket money prices. In fact, armed with the UK average pocket money of £6.24, young consumers can purchase enough alcohol to drink twice the recommended daily limit for an adult male, every day.”
Mr Shevills said cheap drink was fuelling the North- East’s problem with drink, and said: “Alcohol is a primary instigator in violent crime.
“It increases hospital admissions, which drains vital NHS resources. It encourages absenteeism and causes disability, which increase the amount of benefit claims.”
He said the “ridiculously low” prices make it clear that alcohol price cannot be left to shops.
Durham Police Chief Constable Jon Stoddart said: “While illegal drugs tend to get all the headlines, the issue of alcohol misuse presents us with serious problems… ranging from minor nuisance, disorder, violence and damage up to rape, organised crime and murder. We need to get to the root of this problem and address the issue of cheap, strong alcohol.”
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