Minimum price would hit 'harmful' drinkers hardest

Moderate drinkers would only pay an extra £18 per year for alcohol if a minimum price of 50p per unit was introduced.

The figure, which relates to people who drink up to 250 units of alcohol a year, was raised by Dr Petra Meier at a Parliamentary debate today about minimum pricing.

She added those most at risk from alcohol harm, drinkers who consume more than 2,200 units a year would pay around £160 extra.

The figure of 50p is the same that has been recommended by The Publican​ in our Make it the Minimum campaign, chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson and health group Alcohol Concern.

Dr Meier, who is the author of the controversial Sheffield Report into alcohol pricing and promotions, also said that a 50p price per unit would save 3,000 lives per year and make huge savings for the NHS.

"There is very good UK evidence that harmful drinkers drink the cheapest stuff," she said.

"With a 50p minimum price harmful drinkers would pay an extar £18 per year. That's not a huge amount of money," she added.

The Alcohol Concern-organised debate saw doctors, academics, police and alcohol industry figures discuss the issue.

Mike Benner, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale, said he was in favour of a minimum price because he believes it would drive trade back to the pub and away from the off-trade.

"The ratio between beer in the off-trade now five to one whereas as 20 years ago it was three to one," he said.

"That price differential is driven by price with loss-leaders in the off trade."

However David Long, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association said he would prefer to see measures introduced to stop loss-leading and that minimum pricing could lead to a return to 'booze cruises' across the channel.

"It would become acceptable for beer to be bought out of the back of a white van," he said.

However, Lib Dem MP Chris Huhne, who chaired the debate, said the industry could have a case to raise with the Office for Fair Trading regarding 'predatory pricing' by the supermarkets.

Meanwhile, David Poley of industry watchdog the Portman Group and Jeremy Beadles of the Wine and Sprit Trade Association both argued that education is needed to tackle alcohol harm issues, not minimum pricing.

Poley said: "I still feel it is not getting to the root cause which is problem drinkers and we need to tackle that through education."

But Dr Evelyn Gillan, of the Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems, said education had failed.

"It's important to remember that what's good about minimum pricing. It's not a panacea, but what it can do is effect people depending on the amount they drink.

"It is targeted so the more you drink the more it will cost you," she said.

For more information about The Publican's​ campaign visit Make it the Minimum​ and join our online petition​