Westminster committee back minimum pricing

An influential cross party committee of MPs looks set to recommend the UK Government follow the Scottish Government's example and impose a minimum price on alcohol, according to newspaper reports.

The House of Commons Select Committee is expected to publish a major report on alcohol containing the recommendation that a minimum price per unit be imposed to tackle problem drinking later this week. The report will also acknowledge the crippling effect of alcohol abuse on the NHS.

Commenting on the report, Committee Chair and Labour MP Kevin Barron said:

"Ministers need to be looking at other solutions than what they are

already looking at".

The Committee's report follows on from a New Year's message by Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Norman Lamb, who also called for the measure:

“Ministers have shown a complete lack of leadership on this issue. They

should take the advice of their own Chief Medical Officer and introduce a minimum price for alcohol.”

Commenting, SNP MSP Michael Matheson, who is a member of the Health Committee, said:

"Labour and Lib Dems politicians in the UK Parliament recognise minimum pricing is the a practical approach to tackling our problem relationship with booze. Their colleagues in the Scottish Parliament must follow this lead and back the SNP's proposals.

“The 3,000 deaths, 42,000 hospital stays, and 110,000 GP visits linked to alcohol annually are causing misery for families and communities,

burdening our public services and sapping Scotland's economic potential.

"As a Parliament, our priority must be improving the public health of

Scotland and minimum pricing is a workable measure which will help to do this by targeting high strength booze sold at pocket money prices.

"As MSPs come back from their Christmas break, it's time to put Scotland's health before supermarket profits and party politics."

Notes:

1. Further details of the House of Commons Health Committee report can be found here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jan/03/minimum-price-for-alcohol

2. Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Norman Lamb MP's comments can be found here:

http://www.libdems.org.uk/press_releases_detail.aspx?title=Minimum_booze_price_will_help_cut_cost_of_alcohol_misuse_-_Lamb&pPK=21388d24-aaea-4952-b937-817e320cf1d1

3. The SNP's minimum pricing proposals are widely supported by a number of agencies including all four chief medical officers, the Royal College of Physicians, senior police and the licensed trade as well as opposition politicians in the Welsh Assembly and two former Scottish Labour Health Ministers. For more information see: http://www.snp.org/node/15982