SNP-style crackdown on drink is demanded by English MPs

Published on Thursday 7 January 2010 21:51

THE SNP government's campaign to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol has been given an unexpected boost by an alliance of Labour and Tory MPs, who said the controversial measure should be introduced to crack down on problem drinking in England.

Labour and Conservative members of the Commons health committee backed minimum pricing, despite their colleagues at Holyrood blocking the SNP's attempts to introduce it north of the Border.

The committee's report said minimum pricing, mandatory health warnings on drinks' labels and a rise in tax on spirits would stem a "shocking" rise in alcohol misuse in England.

The committee, made up of six Labour MPs, three Tories, a Lib Dem and an independent MP, accused the UK government of a "failure of will and competence" over alcohol policy and said ministers were too close to drinks companies and supermarkets.

The alcohol industry – which depends for three-quarters of its sales on people drinking at levels deemed hazardous or harmful, and could lose 40 per cent of its market if people drank responsibly – holds more power over government policy than expert health professionals, said the cross-party committee.

A rise in the price of drinks through minimum pricing per unit would be the most effective way of bringing down consumption and reducing the annual toll of 30,000 to 40,000 deaths, the report said. A minimum price of 50p a unit could save an estimated 3,000 lives each year, and a 40p minimum could save 1,100.

The report rejected as "a myth" the claim that minimum pricing would hit moderate drinkers. At 40p a unit, someone drinking six units a week would pay 11p a week more than at present, while women consuming the recommended maximum of 15 units would pay a total of 6.

It would have the greatest impact on the cheap high-strength lagers and "industrial white cider" favoured by young binge drinkers and heavy drinkers.

The findings were welcomed by SNP health secretary Nicola Sturgeon, who called on her opponents to back the Scottish administration's attempts for the policy.

"It is notable that this report holds Scotland up as an example to be emulated," Miss Sturgeon said. "I call on everyone who cares about Scotland's health to unite behind the Alcohol Bill."

The SNP's attempts to get minimum pricing through Holyrood appeared to be fatally damaged at the end of last year when Labour MSPs revealed they would not be supporting the policy.

Last night Labour's Scottish health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: "We share the committee's concern about the over consumption of alcohol which is why at the very top of our new year resolution list is to establish an Alcohol Commission to start working on finding robust proposals to deal with harmful drinkers."

The report, which was backed by doctors, revealed that English drinkers were now drinking nine and half litres of pure alcohol per head per year compared to three and a half litres in 1947.