Minimum alcohol price plans dropped

Written by Harpers Editorial team

Tuesday, 28 October 2008

The government has decided not to impose a minimum price on alcohol, according to a report in the Mirror.

The move to set a minimum price was an attempt to end cheap deals on beer, wine and spirits in supermarkets in a bid to combat binge-drinking.

It was believed that hiking up the price of alcohol would deter younger drinkers.

The paper reports that the credit crunch is to blame for dropping the idea of an alcohol price increase - said to be about 35 pence per unit of alcohol and that ministers feared a major outcry from the public if the move was implemented.

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) welcomed the decision.

"Hard-pressed families do not deserve to have prices raised by politicians in the middle of the worst economic crisis in a generation," said Jeremy Beadles, chief executive of the WSTA.

Richard James, www.winewriting.com said:

	Why is the government being so 'doh!' about this? Surely the easiest way would be to make it illegal to sell alcohol below cost price, like in France and the US (I think)? Wouldn't this reduce the amount of silly promotions without increasing everyday retail prices?
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