News
Health experts urge Government to prioritise Minimum Unit Pricing in new strategy
More than 70 health organisations from across the UK have
backed a new independent alcohol strategy calling for the UK Government
to prioritise Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP), amongst a set of key policies
aimed at curbing the nation's drink problem.
Published today by the University of Stirling, ‘Health First: An evidence-based alcohol strategy for the UK’ sets out a series of no-nonsense recommendations (see summary here)
to tackle the harm caused by excess drinking across the UK, including a
cross-border 50p minimum price per unit of alcohol sold.
The strategy was developed by a group of experts independent from government and the alcohol industry under the auspices of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA)
Sir Ian Gilmore, Chair of the AHA, said: “Governments
across the UK have begun to take action to reduce the harm that alcohol
can cause. This action is very welcome but needs to go further. In
developing this strategy, we considered the best available evidence
about appropriate policies and interventions that are needed both to
reduce drinking levels in individuals and reduce the damage to families
and communities that alcohol can cause. The report provides a blueprint
for action, now and in the future.”
Professor Linda Bauld from the University of Stirling, who
led the development of the strategy, said: “There is strong support for
this strategy not just from the numerous organisations who have
endorsed it, but also from the public. We found support for introducing
warning labels on bottles, minimum unit pricing, restrictions on
advertising and access to support and treatment for people addicted to
alcohol. There is clearly an appetite for change, and our report sets
out what needs to be done.”
The full report is available for download here.