High alcohol price benefits all

According to the Sheffield university team, setting the minimum cost at 50p per unit of alcohol would save up to 50,000 people from illness in a decade.

Sufferers of chronic illnesses especially cardiovascular disease and people aged 45 and older would benefit most from raised prices.

However, retailers say minimum pricing penalises responsible drinkers.

A 50p minimum price per unit of alcohol would result in a standard bottle of wine being sold for no less than £4.50, a two-litre bottle of cider for £5.50 and the average six-pack of lager for £6.

The government has said it wants to crack down on binge drinking – a direct result of cheap alcohol. But it has not said how yet, and has made it clear that it does not want to impose additional burdens on the majority, who are moderate drinkers.

The Sheffield researchers say establishing a minimum price, as well as restricting promotions, would be the most effective way to reduce the harm caused by alcohol.

This, they say, would help stop younger people bingeing on cheap alcohol and stop heavy drinkers loading up on stronger beverages.

About 3.5% of a moderate drinkers weekly intake would be cut down if the 50p limit were implemented.

Although this may not sound much, Dr Robin Purshouse and his team say it equates to a lot over time.

“When you look at the range of benefits, it’s not just the illnesses that people would associate most commonly with alcohol and heavy drinking, although those will also go down.

“In terms of the overall burden, about 20% is for moderate drinkers who make up half of the population.”

And Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians and Chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said: “A minimum unit price is not a silver bullet for alcohol-related harm. It represents just one of a raft on measure, but to omit it from policy would be to disregard the compelling evidence supporting it.”

However, Andrew Opie of the British Retail Consortium says minimum pricing is a blunt tool, which penalises responsible drinkers.

“Supermarkets are driving a culture of sensible drinking by using unit labelling to help people regulate how much they drink, preventing underage sales.”

By Deepika Dudakia