Minimum pricing plan could have domino effect
If plans to introduce minimum pricing in the Scottish off-trade go ahead the rest of the country would soon follow suit, according to John Grogan MP.
This week Scotland's Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill revealed a range of plans to tackle binge-drinking problems north of the border, including setting the price of one unit of alcohol at 50p or more.
And Grogan, Labour MP and chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group, believes if the plans are approved in Scotland it is only a matter of time before they come into force south of the border.
He said: "There will be pressure to do something in England because one of the dangers if there is minimum pricing in Scotland is people crossing the border to buy drink. It would be difficult to do in one place and not in the other."
In April the Beer Group organised an open session at the House of Commons to discuss minimum pricing.
The MP, who also met with MacAskill to discuss the plans earlier this month, said there is a "potential coalition of interest" between the on-trade, off trade and health lobby pursuing minimum pricing.
"The UK government's next point of reference will be the report on the relationship between the price of alcohol and health which is coming out in July," he said.
MacAskill's plans would also put the brakes on discounting when people buy booze in bulk.
According to reports in Scotland MacAskill's plans have won the backing of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
A Scottish government spokesman said: "We regularly meet a range stakeholders to discuss alcohol policy issues including producers, health experts, and other interests and officials have meet OFT as part of the day to day workings of government.
"Clearly OFT will have a interest in the alcohol strategy and we will have a dialogue with them during the consultation process and in taking forward any measures that affect retailers or producers. But the government will rely on its own legal advice on taking forward any proposals for Parliament to consider."
