Government accused of pandering to industry on pricing

UK alcohol retailers are “reliant on people risking their health to provide profits”, according to a group of leading doctors, who also accused the government of pandering to the drinks industry.

The claim came as the group launched an attack on the government’s approach to tackling Britain’s irresponsible drinking culture in medical journal The Lancet.

Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, past president of the Royal College of Physicians; Nick Sheron, from the University of Southampton; and Chris Hawkey, of the Queen’s Medical Centre, University Hospital, Nottingham, claim that failure to introduce higher minimum pricing for alcohol could cost up to 250,000 lives over the next 20 years.

Ministers have previously announced the banning of the sale of alcohol below cost-price and an increase in duty on higher-strength beers.

However, Professor Gilmore said the plans are “inconsequential because of the tiny fraction of sales that fall into either category.”

The medical experts are calling for a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol, saying this would result in much less alcohol being sold.

Gilmore added: “These policies suggest that the government remains too close to the industry.

“How many more people have to die from alcohol-related conditions… before the government takes the situation as seriously as it took the dangers of tobacco?

Professor John Rhodes, president of the British Society of Gastroenterology, said: “This paper highlights the stark future we face if the government continues to pander to the agendas of the drinks industry.”

The calls come, however, during a period in which alcohol consumption is falling in the UK.

Alcohol groups also claim that the price of alcohol in the UK is relatively expensive when compared with prices in Europe.

Gavin Partington, spokesman at the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, said: "It is regrettable that the various projections take no account of the most recent government data showing a continued fall in consumption of alcohol and a decline in the number of deaths from alcohol related illnesses.

"The authors ignore the fact that alcohol taxes and prices are among the highest in Europe in contrast to France, a country with low prices yet cited as a nation having achieved a reduction in liver-related deaths.”

Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, added: “When it comes to alcohol, we need a debate based on the latest facts. Since 2005, UK alcohol consumption per head has fallen by almost 11%. Far from being too close to government, all alcohol producers have faced huge increases in tax and regulation in recent years.

“For beer, duty has increased by 26% since 2008. This has been hugely damaging, and the government has plans for large increases in March, which would further hurt the brewing and pub sector on which a million UK jobs depend.  

“We already have the some of the highest alcohol tax levels in the world. Raising UK taxes further would be a burden on the vast majority who drink sensibly, and provide a potential bonanza for bootleggers and the booze cruise.

“We need better awareness and measures targeted at the minority who misuse alcohol – and the industry is committed to work with the government to achieve this.”

Alan Lodge, 21.02.2011