Balance responds to the Queen’s speech
Colin Shevills, Director of Balance, the North East Alcohol Office, said: “It is extremely disappointing that minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol has not been included in the Queen’s speech today.
“At a time when the North East and the rest of the UK continues to suffer at the hands of alcohol, the evidence for MUP is getting stronger in both modelling and in practice.
“Evidence tells us it will save lives, cut crime and reduce hospital admissions. Research in Canada has also shown us that the measure has been even more successful than the modelling led us to believe – with a 10% increase in the average minimum price for all alcoholic drinks associated with a 32% reduction in alcohol-related deaths.
“The legality of MUP also took a step in the right direction with last week’s Scottish Court of Session ruling in favour of it. Although the alcohol industry has announced it will appeal the decision – which will only delay matters and ultimately cost lives – hopefully this will begin the process of reducing barriers to its introduction in both Scotland and then across the UK.
“The Government needs to listen to the growing number of supporters for MUP which includes health professionals, the police, charitable organisations, publicans and the majority of the North East public. It has already made a commitment to MUP – it now needs to act on it to reduce the real harms that alcohol continues to have on individuals, families and communities.”