Government accused of 'pussyfooting' around minimum pricing

The government has been accused of "pussyfooting" around the issue of minimum pricing as it faced renewed pressure to bring in the measure.

MPs debated the alcohol-related problems in Parliament today, off the back of the findings of a Health Select committee report in January.

The government has previously said it is against minimum pricing as it would punish the responsible majority.

But the majority of MPs involved in today's debate spoke out in favour of the measure.

Kelvin Hopkins, Labour MP for Luton North, said ministers were "pussyfooting" around pricing and called for immediate action.

"The minimum pricing argument is overwhelming," he said. It would also help the pub trade as people would not get "tanked up" before going out, he added.

Labour MP Kevin Barron, chairman of the Health Select committee, who led the debate, argued a 40p minimum price would have "little effect" on a moderate drinker. "Minimum pricing would have most effect on those that need cheap alcohol, such as young binge drinkers," he said.

However he also said alcohol duty should increase "year on year" to ensure that minimum pricing did not just boost the profits of the supermarkets and the drinks industry.

Liberal Democrat MP Greg Mulholland supported minimum pricing, but warned it was not a "silver bullet" to the problem. "We need to look at this in a holistic way," he said.

Renewed calls also came for a ban on alcohol advertising and marketing.

The government is expected to respond to the recommendations of the Health committee later this month.

The Publican is campaigning for a minimum price through its Make it the Minimum ​ campaign.