Health experts demand minimum alcohol price in UK
The UK should introduce minimum unit alcohol pricing to reduce the physical and economic damage of alcohol abuse, according to a letter from 50 health professionals and campaigners, including the British Medical Association and the Royal Society of Public Health. The letter, sent to The Guardian, claims that alcohol misuse costs the UK between £21bn ($28bn) and £52bn ($69bn) each year. On Monday, the Welsh government announced plans to follow the example of Scotland, which fixed a minimum unit price in 2012. The Scottish law has yet to be introduced due to legal challenges. 

We unequivocally endorse the Welsh government’s adoption of a minimum unit price for alcohol (Wales reveals plan for minimum alcohol price, 23 October).

Minimum unit pricing is a highly effective tool to reduce the number of deaths related to alcohol, crime and workplace absence. The Welsh government continues to demonstrate its firm commitment to tackle the problem of cheap alcohol and the devastating effect this has on our communities, especially its most vulnerable members.

This decisive action will not impact prices in pubs or bars but target pocket-money-priced alcohol. It is simply unacceptable that three litres of white cider, containing the equivalent alcohol of 22 shots of vodka, can be bought for just £3.49.

With alcohol misuse costing £21bn-£52bn per year, the UK government must now follow Wales and Scotland by implementing a policy that will save lives, relieve pressure on our NHS and fulfil its commitment to even out life chances.

Prof Sir Ian Gilmore Chair, Alcohol Health Alliance UK

Dr Andrew Yeoman National clinical lead, Wales Liver Disease Delivery Plan

Dr Sarah Wollaston MP

Liam Byrne MP

Fiona Bruce MP Chair of the APPG on Alcohol Harm

Clive Brooke Labour, House of Lords

Ilora Finlay Crossbench, House of Lords

Katherine Brown Chief executive, Institute of Alcohol Studies

Dr Richard Piper Chief executive of Alcohol Research UK and Alcohol Concern

Prof Jonathan Shepherd Director, Violence Research Group

Dr Andrew Furber President, Association of Directors of Public Health

Rob Poole Professor of social psychiatry, Centre for Mental Health and Society, Bangor University

Dr Adrian Boyle Consultant emergency physician, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust

Dr Kieran Moriarty British Society of Gastroenterology

Dr Peter Rice Chair, steering group, Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems

Prof Roger Williams Foundation for Liver Research

Prof Nick Sheron Head of clinical hepatology, University of Southampton

Alison Douglas Chief executive, Alcohol Focus Scotland

Dr Eric Carlin Director, Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems

Prof Paul Lincoln CEO, UK Health Forum

Dr Ranjini Rao Consultant psychiatrist in addictions, and chair of addictions faculty in Wales, Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych)

Prof Parveen Kumar Chair, board of science, British Medical Association

Dr Gerry Lynch Consultant psychiatrist, chair of RCPsych in Northern Ireland and vice-president of RCPsych

Richard Gardner Chief executive, British Society of Gastroenterology

Prof Matthew Cramp President, British Association for the Study of the Liver

Shirley Cramer Chief executive, Royal Society for Public Health

Dr Linda Bauld Deputy director, UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies

Prof John Middleton President, UK Faculty of Public Health

Catherine Robinson Professor of social policy research, Centre for Mental Health and Society, Bangor University

Prof Jennifer Mindell Chair, Health Improvement Committee, UK Faculty of Public Health

Dr Ewan Forrest Consultant hepatologist and honorary clinical associate professor, Glasgow Royal Infirmary

Judi Rhys Chief executive, British Liver Trust

Dr Linda Harris Lead for substance misuse, Royal College of General Practitioners

Dr Dominique Florin Medical director, Medical Council on Alcohol

Dr Zul Mirza Consultant in Emergency Medicine

Helen Donovan Royal College of Nursing

Prof Keith Lloyd Chair of RCPsych in Wales and vice-president of RCPsych

Dr Helen Toal Consultant psychiatrist, and chair of addictions faculty, RCPsych in Northern Ireland

John Jolly Chief executive, Blenheim

Dr Clementine Maddock Consultant psychiatrist

Dr Ahmed Khan Chair of the RCPsych in Scotland Addictions Faculty

Professor Robin Touquet Emeritus professor of emergency medicine, Imperial College London and St Mary’s hospital, Paddington

Nigel Bongard Trustee of Alcohelp

Terry Martin Trustee of Alcohelp

Dr Chris Record Consultant hepatologist

Dr John Crichton Chair of RCPsych in Scotland and vice-president of RCPsych

Dr Bruce Ritson

Prof Frank Murray Consultant gastroenterologist

Diane Goslar Patient representative, Royal College of Psychiatrists

Professor Woody Caan Faculty of Public Health alcohol special interest group

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