28/11/2012

45p Minimum Booze Price In Planning

UK drinkers could be in line to pay more for their booze after ministers unveiled a new plan to introduce a minimum alcohol price of 45p per unit.

Under new measures to tackle "drunken mayhem" on British streets, multi-buy deals in off-licenses and shops that sell alcohol could be banned.

Home Secretary Theresa May is outlining the package which will be put up for consultation.

The new measures hope to "turn the tide" on what the government claims is a culture of irresponsible drinking which costs the taxpayer £21bn annually.

Officials claim it is currently possible to buy a can of lager for as little as 20p and a two litre bottle of cider for £1.69.

But the drinks industry has warned the 45p threshold would hit modest consumers hard and yet fail to address the underlying problems.

Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association, said: "While the government may be consulting on 45p consumers should be aware that the final minimum unit price could be much higher than that.

"In the spring we were told it would be 40p, it's already 45p, we know that health groups are calling for a price of at least 50p and the Scottish government has already proposed a 50p minimum unit price.

"The impact at 50p would see 65 per cent of prices in supermarkets and off-licences rise with a bottle of vodka increasing in price from £9 to £13.13."

The new measure is expected to only effect large multi-buys, which are seen as encouraging irresponsible and binge drinking.

Home Office officials insisted the consultation was targeted at "harmful drinkers, problems pubs and irresponsible shops".

"Those who enjoy a quiet drink or two have nothing to fear from our proposals."

(IT)

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