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Doctors call for alcohol MUP in England
Leading doctors have published an open letter to parliament, urging ministers to implement a minimum unit price for alcohol in England.
The open letter to parliament urges ministers to implement a minimum unit price for alcohol
Following the announcement last year that Scotland would begin implementing a minimum unit price (MUP) on alcohol, ministers in England are being urged to follow suit.
Signed by 101 experts, including professor Jane Dacre, the president of the Royal College of Physicians and Janet Davies, CEO and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, the letter was sent to British newspaper, The Sunday Times.
The letter says: “Lives will be lost unnecessarily if Westminster delays further on MUP. In Scotland, MUP was delayed by 5 years because of challenges from sections of the alcohol industry.
“We know from data out today that a similar delay in England could cost 1,148 lives, lead to 182,000 alcohol-related crimes taking place, cost the NHS £326 million and cause a financial loss to society valued at over at least £1 billion.”
MPs in Westminster will today (22 January) debate the proposed minimum unit pricing of alcohol in England, a policy which will be implemented in Scotland from May 2018, and Wales soon after.
The minimum pricing of 50p (US$0.70) per unit of alcohol will see the cost of drinks rise and under these new rules, the cheapest bottle of Scotch whisky will cost £14 (US$18.80) per bottle.