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In response to government plans to ban retailers from selling alcohol below the rate of duty + VAT, Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance and former President of the Royal College of Physicians said:

“We are pleased to see that the government accepts cheap drink is the main driver of the health harm we're seeing. However, the price floor announced today will have a negligible impact on the rising tide of harm caused to health by alcohol misuse.

“Today’s announcement that retailers must not sell alcohol below the rate of duty + VAT equates to just 21p per unit of beer. Research conducted by the School of Health and Health Related Research found that if the minimum price was set higher, at 50p per unit, it would reduce hospital admissions by approximately 100,000 each year with total cost savings for England of £7.4billion over ten years.

“Whilst today’s announcement is a step in the right direction, it is a tiny one. It will impact on a small fraction of special offers and will have no meaningful impact on the health consequences of alcohol misuse.”

Notes:

• Figures quoted from Meier P, et al. The independent review of the effects of alcohol pricing and promotion. Summary of evidence to accompany reporton phase 1: Systematic Reviews. School of Health and Related Research, University ofSheffield, UK June 2008; 2008.

• For more information on the Alcohol Health Alliance’s policy on minimum pricing for alcohol, download the policy briefing (PDF 41kb)

• Home Office statement, 'Rules on alcohol pricing planned'.

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