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MUP could reduce child suicides, inquest claims
By Amy HopkinsThe controversial question of introducing a minimum price for alcohol in the UK has arisen once again as an inquest rules that the measure could reduce child suicides in Wales.
A recent inquest has ruled that a minimum pricing policy for alcohol could help reduce child suicides in WalesThe Child Death Review Programme – part of Public Health Wales – has concluded that due to the number of child suicides where alcohol consumption was involved, a minimum pricing policy should be introduced.
Looking at 34 such deaths between 2006 and 2012, health professionals concluded that the measure had the potential to minimise suicide risk among children by restricting access.
The group also recommended greater regulation of the marketing and availability of alcohol, as well as taking action on underage sales, could help tackle the number of child suicides in Wales.
Plans for a minimum pricing policy for alcohol in the UK were shelved in July 2013 over fears it could hit responsible drinkers.
The initial policy suggested a 40p minimum price would save 900 lives a year and prevent 50,000 crimes.
However, many members of the drinks industry have ardently opposed a policy for minimum pricing, claiming that the measure would not adequately tackle over consumption, and would instead penalise businesses.
In response to this recent inquest, the Welsh Government issued a statement claiming that since the country does not have devolved powers for alcohol licensing, it is “currently exploring if Wales could introduce minimum unit pricing in our existing legislative framework”.
The statement added that the Welsh executive had “written on a number of occasions to the Home Secretary and other UK Government ministers seeking devolution of alcohol licensing”.
Scotland, which has devolved alcohol licensing powers from Westminster, passed a bill for minimum alcohol pricing in May 2012.