Politicians in England and Wales are unlikely to back proposals by chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol.
Donaldson has urged the Government to follow the example of Scotland and plan to bring in minimum pricing of 50p per alcoholic unit, a move that could double the price of both a lager multipack and a bottle of vodka and would set the minimum price of a bottle of wine at £4.50.
It is said drink-related illnesses cost the NHS about £3bn a year and Donaldson is expected to unveil his proposals when his annual report on the state of the nation’s health is published tomorrow (Tuesday).
The Guardian reports today it is unlikely politicians in England and Wales will back the demands because it would prove unpopular with the public with a general election just over 12 months away.
David Poley, chief executive of the Portman Group industry watchdog, said: “This would hit the pockets of hard-working families who are already struggling to make ends meet and it would not deter those people who drink to get drunk.”
Works and pensions secretary James Purnell virtually ruled out minimum pricing for England and Wales when he appeared on BBC’s The Politics Show on Sunday. “We will look at the proposals but we are saying we have no intention of going ahead with something that would punish the responsible majority,” he said.
The Scottish Government is pushing ahead with plans for minimum pricing, but its anti-alcohol proposals are likely to be opposed over the next few months by opposition parties north of the border.
