Top doctor tells MPs minimum pricing would "help pubs

Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson has today renewed his calls for a minimum price, telling MPs it would "help pubs".

Giving evidence to a Health Select committee inquiry on alcohol, Donaldson said minimum pricing was a "very neat solution" based on evidence that price is a "major influence" on drinking patterns.

"It does not do much to moderate drinkers, and for once we cannot be accused of attacking the pub trade, like on the smoking ban, because it would actually help them," he told the committee.

Donaldson has previously called for a 50p per unit minimum, but admitted to MPs he was not "wedded" to this price, just the principle.

The government has repeatedly said it will not act on minimum pricing at the moment.

However, today new Public Health Minister Gillian Merron said Labour had not "ruled this out". "I'm interested in exploring various price options," she said.

On hearing this, Donaldson said he was "pleased it's still on the agenda".

Earlier Edward Troup, director of business and indirect tax at the Treasury, was asked if he thought alcohol duty rates were related to pub closures.

"We do not think so, no," he replied.

But increasing duty rates would not have an impact on alcohol health problems, he said, because increases are often swallowed up by the supermarkets.

Before this Licensing Minister Gerry Sutcliffe told the committee the Licensing Act is sometimes used as a "scapegoat" for alcohol issues.

He also called for pubs to be supported as "key parts of our community".

Home Office minister Alan Campbell was forced to defend the small number of prosecutions for serving to a drunk. "It's actually quite difficult to enforce that (law)," he said.

The Publican is campaigning for a 50p minimum price, as part of its Make it the Minimum​ initiative, which is designed to stamp out irresponsible off-trade promotions.