Minimum pricing - the issue that won't go away

Would 80p be an acceptable level for a minimum price on a unit of alcohol? Should pubs be forced to cap the amount they charge for soft drinks? How determined is Scotland to bring in a minimum price on alcohol?

These were just some of the issues and topics examined and discussed during a conference entitled 'Alcohol - the next steps for policy​', organised by the Westminster Food and Nutrition Forum.

The event proved minimum pricing is an issue that refuses to go away for the government. Gordon Brown may be reluctant to even consider the idea - while we remain in the grip of recession - but for health lobbyists and the police it seems an attractive drum they will continue to bang.

Causing the biggest stir during the opening session was chief constable Mike Craik, the Association of Chief Police Officers' national spokesman on licensing.

He called for an 80p minimum price to help tackle the current problems around alcohol. He suggested the current touted level of 50p would only see a six per cent cut in consumption, whereas 80p would mean a 19 per cent reduction. But he acknowledged that level would not be popular. "It will upset some in the industry, but not everybody, as some already sell better drinks at that price," he said.

He also called for a complete ban on alcohol advertising.

Despite proposing these measures, Craik was keen to stress that it is not "all doom, gloom and disorder". "We think it's time for a slightly more positive narrative, but you do need some radical action," he added.

But he acknowledged: "It isn't alcohol that's the problem, it's the people."

Craik also said the impact of so called 24-hour licensing had been-"neutral", adding that it was a stale debate. "Can we move on from that one?" he said.

Further positive noises came from Professor Ian Gilmore of the Royal College of Physicians, who appears to have been watering down his views on the trade of late. He pointed to "signs of improvement" and consumption levels "falling off". However, he also highlighted that alcohol probably remains the most common cause of death for 18 to 24-year-olds.

And he added: "We need to face a few uncomfortable truths, it's not just about youngsters."

On minimum pricing, he said responsible drinkers had "nothing to fear from a population approach". "Minimum pricing has to come in and it will not affect moderate drinkers or community pubs, but people who buy three-litre bottles of cider," he said.

Positive role of pubs

Earlier in the session, Mike Benner, chief executive ofCAMRA talked up the positive role that pubs play in society. Pubs promote "social cohesion", he said, and were an "essential meeting place for people to meet and unwind".

Again, minimum pricing gained the thumbs up. "We are in favour of something happening quickly that will stamp out loss-leading in supermarkets," Benner said. Earlier he had pointed out the price gap between the on-trade and the off-trade was now five to one.

Concluding the morning session, shadow licensing minster Tobias Ellwood acknowledged the cost of alcohol-related problems to the economy, but also the price gap between the on-trade and the off-trade. There were "hurdles" to get through, such as the EU, he said, but he added: "We must be allowed to provide solutions to these problems."

No magic bullet

The second session of the morning saw more talk about minimum pricing, but this time with a dissenting voice. Mark Hastings, director of communications at the British Beer & Pub Association, argued that a minimum price was not the answer to the problems around alcohol.

Much of the argument for minimum pricing is that it would help significantly cut alcohol-related hospital admissions. But Hastings pointed to the fact that alcohol consumption has been falling since 2004, which should mean hospital admissions would be going down, when in reality they are still rising.

And he said the target age group, 18 to 25-year-olds, would not be affected because they sometimes spend between £250 and £400 on a night out.

"Fiddling with a few pence here and there on price will not have an impact," Hastings said.

Earlier, Alison Douglas, the Scottish government's head of alcohol policy, laid out the plans to tackle alcohol-related problems north of the border. She admitted there was no "magic bullet" for addressing the issues, but said minimum pricing was necessary. "Doing more of the same is not a proportionate response to the scale of the problem we are facing," she said.

The government is not "naïve" about the challenge it faces in bringing in minimum pricing, from the whisky industry and other political parties, she said.

But she added: "We believe minimum pricing will help put in people's minds that alcohol is a dangerous substance that needs to be used with caution."

If all "went well", she said, minimum pricing would be in place by next summer, although a unit level had yet to be decided.

Later Nicolay Sorenson, director of policy and communications at Alcohol Concern, said the evidence on minimum pricing was "robust", and would help deal with loss-leaders and benefit pubs.

There also needed to be a "greater consensus and dialogue between the health lobby and the drinks industry," he said.

Cathie Smith, director of the BII's awarding body BIIAB, joined Hastings in saying minimum pricing was not the answer, as it would not make a difference. The idea of personal responsibility could not be ignored, she argued, bemoaning the fact that alcohol had "become the scapegoat for the ills of society".

Will Cavendish, director of health and wellbeing at the Department of Health, admitted that alcohol consumption rates had "levelled off" in the past three or four years, but said they were still twice what they were 20 or 30 years ago - and that around 10 million people were drinking above recommended limits.

And on the topic of the day - minimum pricing - he said the government was looking to "develop further" the evidence base in this area and "identify plans that reduce excessive harmful drinking but do impact unduly on the responsible majority". n

• The Publican's Make it the Minimum campaign is calling for a minimum price of 50p per unit. For more information visit Make it the Minimum​ and Sign our minimum pricing petition​

Code conundrum

The government's controversial mandatory code of practice for the drinks industry also prompted plenty of reaction from speakers.

Pressed on whether there would be extra regulation of the off-trade, the Department of Health's Will Cavendish said conditions within the code were designed to tackle bulk supermarket deals. But he added: "The code is not a weapon designed to bash responsible pubs." He also admitted the KPMG report had been "very influential" when drawing up the code.

Support also came from Professor Ian Gilmore, who said the code was "necessary" because the KPMG report showed the voluntary measures were not working.

And chief constable Mike Craik also said the code "has to be mandatory".

However, the BBPA's Mark Hastings said while the body supported a clampdown on irresponsible promotions, more "financial burdens" was the last thing the sector needed and better enforcement of existing laws was required.

Soft drink solution?

The idea of a maximum price for soft drinks in pubs - to encourage more moderate alcohol consumption - received support at the Westminster Food and Nutrition Forum.

A delegate suggested it would be a good idea because people "feel ripped off paying too much" for soft drinks in the on-trade.

It was also pointed out that sometimes the cost of a pint of cola is almost the same price as a pint of beer.

And Mark Bellis, direc