Minimum Pricing for Alcohol

The government has released a statement saying they plan on introducing minimum pricing for a unit of alcohol. The plans are; from now on one unit of alcohol will cost 40+p, this will push up the prices for cheap drink and all offers (such as two for one) must end.

The reason for the government doing this is because of the binge drinking that has blighted the UK for many years. The idea is that raising the price of cheap alcohol will mean that people will buy less on a night out. Although some people have attacked it as a tax on the poor as it will hit them more than any other group. The main target though, is the young as cheap booze is how many young people get drunk. Quite often, before going out, young people drink a lot of cheap alcohol and then head out.

Cameron is hoping that an increase in prices will mean that the young are less able to afford alcohol and therefore will be less drunk. This provides a saving to the taxpayer as alcohol related health problems decline and less damage is done to public places and less people in prison.

Labour has backed the move but accuses the government of using the statement to try and cover for the unpopular budget and the timing does seem a little off, but nonetheless, it has been indicated before that this would become government policy.