WSTA: Gov should build on partnership approach

The Government should build on the partnership approach rather than use price and tax to reduce alcohol-related harm, according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

Responding to the Home Affairs Committee report calling for minimum pricing, a ban on loss-leader deals on alcohol and a mandatory code of conduct, the WSTA called for greater enforcement of exisitng laws.

"As this review found, where current laws to tackle alcohol related harm are used, they are effective," said WSTA chief executive Jeremy Beadles.

"There are more than enough laws to deal with alcohol related disorder but the police do not have the resources they need to enforce them.

"Calls for Government to set the price of alcohol or raise prices for everyone are simply unfair, particularly in the current economic climate, and will do nothing to stop the small minority who misuse alcohol.

"Rather than using the blunt instrument of tax or price, the Government ought to build on the examples of good partnership between the industry, police and local government to reduce alcohol harm."