Tories plan to curb binge drinking with price hikes

Published on Wednesday 7 October 2009 22:01

THE price of super-strength beer and alcopops will be massively increased in a bid to cut down on binge drinking, under plans unveiled by the Conservatives.

Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling told the party's conference he would double the price of supermarket brand high-strength cider, currently one of the cheapest drinks on the shelf.

The move would apply across the UK but in Scotland ministers are also planning to introduce their own blanket minimum pricing policy, covering all alcoholic drinks.

The move unveiled by the Tories would increase the price of a four-pack of super strength lager by 1.33. A large bottle of alcopops would rise in price by 1.50. Mr Grayling told the conference: "The ordinary pint in the pub will not be affected and there will be exemptions for some local traditional products. But we'll call time on the drinks that fuel antisocial behaviour."

The SNP seized on the announcement yesterday to claim that the UK Conservative party had bounced the Scottish party into a crackdown. The Scots Tories are opposing the SNP's minimum pricing strategy. SNP MSP Michael Matheson said: "This announcement by the Tories is an embarrassment to the Tories in the Scottish Parliament."