Call for alcohol tax rise

More evidence about the causes of excessive drinking is needed before new measures such as the banning of discounted alcohol are introduced, a Government minister said today.

Health Minister Dawn Primarolo defended the Government's efforts after a report called for it to implement tougher measures to tackle the problem.

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics said increasing alcohol tax and restricting hours of sale would be effective tactics.

It says the annual number of deaths due to alcohol-related medical conditions doubled from just over 4,000 in 1991 to more than 8,000 in 2005.

The report criticises the Government's strategy of using publicity campaigns and voluntary labelling schemes, saying they are ineffective, and calls for an urgent study into the impact of 24-hour licensing on alcohol consumption.

Ms Primarolo told BBC Breakfast that the causes of excessive drinking were "complex", adding that only about 1% of pubs had increased their hours since extended licensing laws were introduced.

She said the Department of Health was looking into the effects of heavily discounted alcohol on sale in supermarkets.

"When we look at the cost of alcohol, and particularly tax on it, we have something like the second highest level in Europe. The issue is the discounted sales, and the Department of Health is already progressing research that is looking at that whole area of using discounted sales to get people to buy more," she said.

Asked if discounted sales could be banned, she replied: "I think we need to firstly make clear what is actually the cause of people increasing drinking. And actually the problem if you like is particularly acute in middle-aged middle drinkers.

"We are working to get the evidence to see if action is needed there."

She said the Government had introduced a comprehensive strategy to tackle the health and social affects of harmful drinking across the board - with a new public information campaign to promote sensible drinking, an independent review of alcohol pricing and promotion, toughened enforcement of underage sales by retailers and plans to introduce more help for people who wanted to drink less.

She added: "We're looking at where it's available, who it's available to, how it's being marketed, what the targeting is and what we can do to give clear messages and to make those who are selling it responsible."

Lord Krebs, who chaired the Nuffield Council committee which produced the report, said: "The Government should implement tougher measures to tackle excessive drinking.

"There is also an urgent need for an analysis of the effect of extended opening hours on levels of alcohol consumption, as well as on anti-social behaviour."

Excessive drinking among young people is a particular cause of concern, the report says.

The Nuffield Council report also names obesity, smoking, infectious disease and fluoridation of water as areas where more needs to be done to improve public health.

It calls on food manufacturers to use front-of-pack labels which will encourage shoppers to make healthier choices.

The Nuffield report launch comes as a coalition of 21 organisations headed by the Royal College of Physicians prepare to form a new Alcohol Health Alliance.

That Alliance is set to lobby for a 10% hike in alcohol taxes plus tighter regulation of the drinks industry.

A conference organised by the Royal College of Physicians will be held today on the theme of "reducing the harm caused by alcohol".

Details of the Alcohol Health Alliance are expected to be unveiled to coincide with the event.

The purpose of the conference is to launch a co-ordinated response from the European medical profession to the impact of alcohol on consumers.

Royal College of Physicians president Ian Gilmore will chair the new Alliance.

Welcoming the Nuffield Council report today, Prof Gilmore said: "We agree that the conclusions in the World Health Organisation document Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity on price, marketing and availability of alcohol are the way forward to counteract the health damage from alcohol misuse.

"Their call to examine the impact of 24-hour licensing on consumption as well as anti-social behaviour is particularly welcome, as this is most likely to impact on the health of the nation in the long-term."

By contrast, British Beer and Pub Association director of communications Mark Hastings said alcohol consumption and levels of binge drinking had actually fallen in the past two years.

"All these factors point to improvements in drinking patterns and behaviour since the introduction of the new licensing laws, and certainly do not support the case for huge tax increases and further restrictions on personal choices and freedoms," he said.

Wine and Spirit Trade Association chief executive Jeremy Beadles said: "The people clamouring for an increase in taxes and regulation on the drinks industry ignore the fact that alcohol consumption is actually falling.

"Increasing the cost of alcohol will just hit the vast majority of people who enjoy a drink in moderation."

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