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MPs call for minimum price on alcohol

Published:  08 February, 2012

MPs have called for the alcohol strategy, due out in the next few weeks, to enforce a minimum price per unit and cut "a significant number of units" by changing how alcohol is produced and sold.

MPs have called for the alcohol strategy, due out in the next few weeks, to enforce a minimum price per unit and cut "a significant number of units" by changing how alcohol is produced and sold.

Conservative MP for Totnes, Dr Sarah Wollaston, said without taking action on pricing, "nothing else will be as effective as it should be".

She also suggested a reduction from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in the drink-drive limit and increased powers for police to conduct breath tests.

Woolaston also argued that the drinks industry's role in alcohol education was a clear "conflict in interest". "If it were possible to solve this problem just through gentleman's agreements with the drinks industry and supermarkets, I would say that we go that way, but that approach has clearly failed. The fact is that when alcohol is too cheap, people die," she added.

Anne Milton, health minister, revealed the government is planning to "remove a significant number of units" in wines, spirits and beers. Speaking in parliament yesterday, she said: "We are also working with industry and non-governmental organisations to remove a significant number of units of alcohol from the UK market through changes in how alcohol is produced and sold."

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