The rumours were true; the new Government Alcohol Strategy: Choice, Challenge and Responsibility confirms minimum pricing is to be brought in for England. Although the unit price is still to be set, in a press release the Prime Minister said "if it is 40p that could mean 50,000 fewer crimes each year and 9,000 fewer alcohol related deaths over the next decade."
The strategy sets out key policies including:
- a minimum unit price for alcohol;
- banning the sale of multi-buy discount deals;
- zero tolerance of drunken behaviour in A&E departments;
- a late night levy to get pubs and clubs helping to pay for policing; and
- improved powers to stop serving alcohol to drunks.
