Doctors Continue Push For Minimum Booze Price

Northern Ireland doctors are continuing their campaign for a minimum price structure for alcohol.

They have welcomed the news that the Scottish government is to reintroduce a minimum price for a unit of alcohol with the NI Public Health Committee Chairman Dr Vinod Tohani commenting: "Alcohol misuse in Northern Ireland costs our economy almost £700 million pounds.

"There are direct costs to hospital services and the criminal justice service, compounded by indirect costs such as loss of productivity and the impact on family and social networks.

"Increasing the price of alcohol in particular will have a twofold effect," he said.

"Not only is there likely to be an effect at a population level, but there is evidence that heavy drinkers and young drinkers are responsive to price.

"Studies have also found that price increases have the effect of reducing rates of alcohol problems including alcohol-related violence and crime deaths from liver cirrhosis and drink driving deaths," he added.

Dr Paul Darragh, Chairman of the BMA's Council in Northern Ireland said: "A range of substantive measures are needed to reduce alcohol misuse, not least a realistic minimum price per unit of alcohol.

"Doctors, who see the realities of alcohol misuse every day, believe that the Scottish government is taking a decisive step forward to safeguard the health of the population.

"This is to be welcomed," he said.

"We are also heartened that local health Minister Edwin Poots has said that the Northern Ireland Executive is determined to introduce new legislation locally to raise the minimum price per unit of alcohol."

(BMcC)