Minister reopens debate on 'ludicrously cheap' alcohol

Health Secretary Andy Burnham yesterday sparked renewed speculation that a minimum price could be imposed on alcohol by warning that some drink was "ludicrously cheap".

Mr Burnham insisted the public mood has changed on excessive drinking and the Government had to respond.

But the prospect of a lower limit on alcohol prices was quickly dismissed by one of his Cabinet colleagues, who insisted it would be “wrong” to punish the responsible majority of drinkers.

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And Downing Street added that the move would not be “sensible” at this stage.

The developments came after the Tories set out their approach to combating the issue, insisting the “confusing” units system for labelling alcoholic drinks should be scrapped.

Instead there should be information on how many centilitres of alcohol beverages contain - and how many calories.

The Tories also pledged to bring in a “payment by results” system to encourage local authorities and health services to combat heavy and anti-social drinking.

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David Cameron has previously indicated he supports a ban on supermarkets selling booze below cost price, but stopped short of advocating a minimum level.

Gordon Brown has also warned against taking action that would punish responsible drinkers. However, there have been persistent rumours of divisions in Cabinet on the issue.

Asked about the idea of minimum pricing, Mr Burnham told the Daily Telegraph: “We need to balance the rights of people who drink responsibly with those who buy ludicrously cheap booze and go out and harm themselves and others.”

He added: “The mood has changed and there is rising public concern - we need to respond to that and move on the debate.”

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The Scottish Government has already put forward proposals to bring in minimum pricing for alcohol as part of a series of measures to tackle Scotland’s drink problem.

And last week the Commons Health Committee said that minimum pricing should be brought in to stem a “shocking” rise in alcohol misuse in England.

But Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy insisted there were currently “no plans” for such a step south of the border and branded it the “wrong thing to do”.

Mr Murphy, a teetotaller, told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “You shouldn’t punish those people who want to have a careful, considered drink because of the unruly behaviour of some yobs and some hooligans who abuse alcohol.”