Minimum price for alcohol

At a guess, I'd say that nearly all wine and spirits are priced at more than 45p per unit already. It seems as though this move would only push up the price of strong cider and lager, although it wouldn't surprise me if everything else went up too 'to cover the costs of implementing the change'!

I think the best way to stop antisocial behaviour in town centres would be to reduce opening hours. I can't understand why no-one ever suggests this in conjunction with raising prices.

Hi absent Instead of bringing out these ridiculous rules and regulations regarding minimum charges for alcohol the government should be looking at the root cause of this binge drinking. There is a feeling of hopelessness in young people today (and many older people too) and being drunk often masks depression and sadness (albeit temporarily).

I also think that there should be a more ruthless approach to landlords who serve alcohol to those who are already clearly inebriated.

My daughter works in a pub. Her shifts can run anytime between 10am and 3am. Why do people need a pub to be open at 10am or not close until 3am? If she is opening up there are regulars waiting outside.

Pub chains and breweries which own pubs (Greene King for example) are all in favour of this price rise, busy making mealy mouthed statements about responsible drinkers being unaffected and burdens on the health service from the rest. Of course, cheap supermarket booze isn't doing their business any favours – it's the bottom line.

This topic was discussed on our local radio this morning and one of the comments was that it cost the NHS in Bristol £16m last year to treat people with alcohol related injuries (not sure if this also included those with liver disease etc.)

If someone presents at A&E with an alcohol related injury shouldn't they be made to pay for their treatment as it could be construed as being self inflicted. I have heard lots of young people say they buy cheap alcohol in supermarkets and get drunk BEFORE going out in the evening. Perhaps limiting the amount one person can buy may be an idea.

Those who binge drink will continue to do so, the people affected will be the moderate drinkers who perhaps have a glass of wine in the evening at home (like me!)

Barrow They have already paid for their treatment through income tax, VAT, alcohol duty, etc.

Where would that system end Barrow ?

Smokers paying for lung problems?
Drivers paying for emergency treatment after a crash?
Walkers paying for treatment for broken ankle?

Or what about pregnant women paying for giving birth? Self inflicted ?

There are doctors and MPs already burbling along that route because they reckon the NHS can't afford to treat so many people, especially – you guessed it – ageing baby boomers. There was someone in yesterday's Torygraph complaining that people aren't willing to endure pain the way previous generations did. He suggested that if you had just watched someone dying owing to enemy action in WWII, you wouldn't make a fuss about your own aches and pains. It didn't seem to occur to him that many people couldn't afford a visit to the doctor in the years before the NHS was established.

We didn't drink much in our youth, and I think this probably had more to do with the fact that we couldn't afford it than because we were naturally sensible, so I can't be too smug about it.

However, to make the relative price similar now would mean a HUGE hike in prices and that would be political suicide to anyone who tried it.

Do think it is sad that young people now often seem to behave as if a night out isn't fun unless they are drunk and incapable, but persuading them otherwise is probably impossible.

No easy answers - as usual!

gillybob Pregnant women? It takes two to tango. Split the cost.

Booze sellers conned Blair into believing we would drink less (like those civilised Europeans) if opening hours extended. Bet they larffffed!
Isn't there legislation that forbids the selling of alcohol to people who are drunk. You know, the days when landlords said "I think you've had enough now Bert. Time to go home to the misses."
One of those laws that has been conveniently forgotten?
Cost of policing city centres must be horrendous.
Bring back the temperance movement I say! I was in Caernarfon last week - apparently a small town like that used to have lots of "temperance bars" where you could go and swig Vimto etc in a convivial atmosphere.

Vimto! Yes! If pubs and clubs sold drinks such as Vimto, Tizer, Dandelion and Burdock etc. they'd probably have a lot more takers for soft drinks. As it is, orange juice, lemonade of those tiny bottles of tomato juice seem to be the only alternatives to alcoholic drinks on offer.

'or' not 'of'

Soft drinks in pubs are hugely expensive. However, I don't think that is the issue. I think the problem is the contemporary drink culture – strange use of the word "culture" when it results in public vomiting and peeing, collapse and display of the knickers. The idea that you are not having a good time unless you are completely hammered is a serious worry. I think these vertical drinking warehouses are part of the problem – the music is so loud so conversation doesn't really happen, there is nowhere to sit so no one relaxes, so the only thing to do is neck the booze as fast as possible. Increasing the price per unit of alcohol in supermarkets will have a very limited effect, even though knocking back a bottle of something before going out for the night seems common practice on Fridays and Saturdays.

I've just been sitting here having a browse and suddenly fancied a glass of wine. Was just about to nip off and pour myself one when I realised that the news story on at the moment is this minimum price for alcohol. Subliminal suggestion, obviously, so will resist so as not to have been manipulated by the press
(Will have one in a few minutes )

It is wine time Learnergran. Don't deprive yourself.

You are right absent - it is a cultural thing. But maybe it partly price. When I was a student people had grants but nobody bought lots of booze. I was a tad shocked when a student niece talked about a student night out - they had bottle or two of champagne before setting out for the evening. That certainly would not have been dreamed of - let alone afforded - 40 years ago.

My student GD had been knocking back the bubbly on Saturday night. She looked surprisingly alive when I took her to lunch on Sunday. I understand there were some footballers in the club that night. We're talking about Manchester after all.

Of course the Government would like a minimum price per unit.
It would help with the revenue, as they already incur huge VAT losses on cut price alcohol.
Nothing to do with the binge drinking they pretend to be concerned about.

You old cynic, you, johanna|!

I can't stop my hubby crying, he is so stressed at the thought.

So the minimum price in Engkand and Wales is to be 45p, but 50p in Scotland? I can foresee "booze cruises" across the Tweed or the Solway