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The most likely result of political debate on the problem of alcohol consumption (your report, 7 June) will be a unit price producing a marginal improvement which will then fade as people adjust to the new pricing.

If the health aspect is as dire as claimed, the sole aim should be guaranteed success, with any detrimental effect on the drinks industry ignored.

Nothing less than a unit price of 1 should be considered, and it must surely be possible for that to be applied only to domestic sales, not exports. No doubt EU exporting countries would complain, but they should be ignored.

Whatever the outcome, any statutory increase should be in the form of taxation, so that the income accrues to the country – and in particular the Health Service which bears the brunt of alcohol abuse.

ROBERT DOW

Ormiston Road

Tranent