Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Alcohol Concern are calling on the public to urge MPs to push for minimum pricing ahead of the forthcoming national alcohol strategy. Alcohol Concern state: The next few weeks will be our last chance to influence the shape of the alcohol strategy, which will shape public policy on reducing alcohol harm for years to come.
Filed in UK Alcohol Policy
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Also tagged alcohol, alcohol-concern, business, controversial, david-cameron, drinks, health, likely-benefits, look-at-minimum, policy, prime-minister, secretary
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Wednesday, December 28, 2011
The Prime Minister David Cameron is reportedly instructing officials to look at minimum pricing options, the much debated population level policy approach to reducing alcohol-related harm. Although Whitehall officials say no decision has yet been made, a Daily Telegraph report suggests measures could be outlined in the forthcoming national alcohol strategy expected in February 2012
Thursday, December 22, 2011
The Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has spoken firmly against minimum pricing as he prepares for a forthcoming national alcohol strategy early next year. Speaking for a feature in the Indendent on Sunday , Lansley said there were “big problems” with minimum pricing as he backed arguments commmonly cited by critics and elements of the alcohol industry.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
The economics think-tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) have published a new report on Alcohol pricing and taxation policies . It echoes many of the findings from a report last year in which it suggested minimum pricing would transfer further profits to industry and retailers, therefore favouring increased taxation.
Filed in Evidence Base, UK Alcohol Policy
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Also tagged alcohol-insight, behavioural, Evidence Base, fiscal-studies, government, industry, institute, likely-increase, office, policy, price, through-the-tax, university
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Monday, February 21, 2011
The Guardian last week published a series of articles questioning the Government's alcohol policy and the state of the responsibilty deal . In the article 'Alcohol policy in tatters as health experts revolt' , the Guardian claimed health members planned to walk away, angry at their limited influence in favour of industry agendas. It reports “The so-called responsibility deal will do the “bare minimum”, such as putting information on beer mats”, whilst issues such as marketing and promotion were said to be “outside the parameters of the discussions”
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The first Drinkaware annual conference recently took place in Westminster – see Drinkaware press release and highlights on YouTube .
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
The Government has announced measures for a “below cost ban” will be defined as the rate of duty + VAT, despite concerns from critics that few drinks are currently sold below this level.
Monday, December 20, 2010
The brewer and pub owner Greene King has called for the “minimum pricing debate to continue” following a policy shift towards taxation and below cost. Greene King, who have previously spoken out in favour of minimum pricing, commissioned a review of the IFS alcohol pricing report which urged higher taxation over minimum pricing. Review of IFS Impact of Introducing a Minimum Price on Alcohol in Britain [pdf] In a press release , Greene King stated that minimum pricing would be a “targeted solution”, “raising the level of the lowest priced alcohol and directly tackling the behaviour which is causing most concern.” However it also suggested that in contrast to the IFS report, the alcohol industry would not benefit from increased profit – in fact it could lose as much as £1.2 billion per year
Filed in UK Alcohol Policy
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Also tagged alcohol, analysis, britain, from-the-greene, government, greene, greene-king, health, minimum-price, policy, press-release, research, telegraph, united-kingdom
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Sunday, November 28, 2010
As the media reports a 'ban on below cost' alcohol sales is imminent, below we attempt to clarify the key distinctions between the commonly touted pricing measures. Download pdf version Some further reports on pricing measures include: The University of Sheffield's modelling of minimum pricing The IFS pricing report calling for increased taxation NICE guidance calling for minimum pricing A SABMiller commissioned report by the CEBR outlining arguments against minimum pricing SNP pages on minimum pricing and the Scottish Alcohol Bill . An interim report on Manchester's proposed local minimum pricing BMJ report urging a VAT reduction for the on-trade
Filed in Guidance, UK Alcohol Policy
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Also tagged against-minimum, alcohol-sales, cebr, manchester, media, policy, pricing-report, proposed-local, scottish, university
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Monday, November 22, 2010
Varying the rate of VAT between the on and off-trade could help to reduce the negative impact of cheap alcohol without punishing pubs, argues Dr Nick Sheron of Southampton University. Sheron explores the idea in a BMJ article: Vary VAT on alcohol: a more palatable way to achieve minimum pricing? Sheron says that although minimum pricing would be effective in addressing cheap off-sales without punishing pubs, he recognises that 'the UK government is not keen on the concept'.