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Labour ‘would introduce minimum pricing policy’

Leaked documents have revealed that the UK’s Labour Party would impose a minimum pricing policy for alcohol should it be elected to Government.

Documents leaked to the Mail on Sunday reveal that Ed Miliband’s Labour Party would consider implementing a minimum pricing policy for alcohol

The blueprint policy, leaked to the Mail on Sunday, also revealed that the party leader Ed Miliband would endeavor to outlaw alcohol sponsorship in sports, which currently amounts to £300 million a year, the newspaper claimed.

Labour would also introduce a “pricing mechanism, such as minimum unit pricing or an alternative” in order to “reduce the availability of high-alcohol, low-price ‘booze’ which is used for pre-loading”.

The UK’s current majority party, the Conservatives, backtracked on plans to introduce a minimum pricing policy for alcohol in July last year over fears it would hit both businesses and responsible drinkers.

Furthermore, the leaked Labour documents show intentions to regulate the “positioning of alcohol retail space” and review licensing laws. Also included in the documents were plans to impose further restrictions around fast food and cigarettes.

A Labour spokesman said the document “represents a wide range of options” but was not part of official party policy.

The documents were drawn up by Andy Burnham, shadow health secretary.

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