WSTA hits out at 80p minimum price
A trade body has condemned calls for an 80p per-unit minimum price plan - saying it would see bottles of wine cost £8.
Mike Craik, Association of Chief Police Officers national spokesperson for alcohol and licensing, backed minimum pricing at 80p at the Westminster Health Forum today. He pointed to estimates that a 50p unit rate would reduce consumption by 6% but an 80p level would lead to a 19% decrease.
The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) condemned the idea, saying a minimum price of 80p would see wine shoot up to £8 per bottle - the average price is currently £4.25.
Only 3% of British consumers spend £8 and more on a bottle of wine, the group said.
WSTA chief executive Jeremy Beadles said: "A minimum price of 80p per unit would punish 97% of British wine drinkers at a stroke. What is the aim here - tackling alcohol misuse or putting wine beyond the reach of ordinary people?"
To Comment: Login or Register