Brown cool on alcohol price plan

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has given a lukewarm response to proposals for minimum prices for alcohol.

The proposals were unveiled by Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer for England, on Monday.

Sir Liam wants a minimum price of 50p for each unit of alcohol a drink contains - taking the price of an average six pack of lager to £6.00.

But Mr Brown said he did not want to impose additional burdens on the majority, who were "moderate" drinkers.

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Gordon Brown for once showing a modicum of common sense here.

Minimum pricing on alcohol would create a situation which would make the poll tax riots look like a nicee day out.

Last week we had another doofus telling us that chocolate should be taxed, and now another Doctor wanting high prices for alcohol.

With the recession biting, and money tight, many people are drinking a few beers (or whatever) at home rather than paying £3 a pint in a pub.

Take away that little luxury, and the safety valve it provides and it opens up a whole new set of problems.

There are forms of alcohol (lagers and ciders, and some spirits) which are far too cheap - BUT things like special brew and frosty jack are not what most people drink.

In fact the only people I see buying this chemical ridden rubbish are people who are far down the road of alcoholism.

As long as it's not brought in as another stealth tax...

Brown should stick to his guns on this one, and maybe figure out how to stop underage kids and chavs from getting blind drunk rather than penalising those who are moderate and sensible drinkers.

As long as the higher charges only apply to the tiple of choice of those less desirable members of society (cheap cider, special brew, Tennents super etc) then i'm up for it.

But one thing I've thought of is that the government already gives alcoholics on benefits extra money in their dole cheque to buy alcohol. These are the type of people they're apparently trying to target. If the price of the alcohol they usually buy increases, then will they also be increasing their dole payments? Why don't they just stop doing that, so maybe those poeple that they're trying to target anyway won't be able to afford as much alcohol and the rest of us don't have to pay extra?

Seems like they're giving with one hand and taking away with the other, but this way normal non-problem drinkers will also lose out as well.

Another stealth-tax money making scheme methinks.

Labour are prone to bringing Britain to 1984 by the back door.

Its surprising that Brown has gone against this reccommendation.

What would the legislation have done? Well effectively by limiting the amount a poor person can spend on alcohol, they have brought in rationing by the back door.

No thanks comrades, keep the Victory Gin for yourself.

I have a personal theory on this proposed new unit price. I suspect the real reason for attacking Supermarket drink prices is because the Govt knows that their total ban on indoor smoking is completely killing the Pub trade. They can't openly admit this of course, hence bump up Supermarket prices in the forlorn hope that this will encourage us all back into the Pubs.

The ONLY reason an MP is 'cool' on raising the price of a drink is because the Houses or Parliament has about 4 Bars in it. And it would mean that they would have to spend a little bit more in the already heavily subsided bars.
Bloody Cheapskates.

I doubt it would affect the Commons bars - we already know they have different rules than the rest of us...

If it did happen though, how long before Charles Kennedy (and probably others) were declared bancrupt?

Again, what the powers that be are saying is lunnacy at it's finest.......They are trying to convince us that price hiking is targetted at underaged binge drinkers in hopes of reducing their alcohol intake...........What hat did they pull THAT pink rabbit from.
There will be many more ways the government will try and claw back a bit more quick cash from us.
So long as we are not drinking, eating, smoking or commuting anywhere, putting a roof over our heads or clothing ourselves, ALL WILL BE FINE.
What are you worried about anyway?????!!!!!!!!!!!

Another factor in Brown being "cool" towards this is the fact that Labour plan to increase duty on alcohol by 2% over inflation every year, for the next 4 years IF they stay in power.