Call made for minimum alcohol price

Alcohol Concern called for the Government to consider higher duty on stronger drinks and charges of at least 50p per unit.

It was backed by the British Liver Trust (BLT), which said that drink-related deaths had trebled in the past 25 years and a price clampdown was the only way to stem the tide.

Research by the University of the West of England used by Alcohol Concern found that there would be 90,800 deaths linked to drink by 2019 if current consumption continues.

Lead author Professor Martin Plant said: "The UK has been experiencing an epidemic of alcohol-related health and social problems that is remarkable by international standards.

"It is strongly recommended that reducing mortality should be the top priority for alcohol control policy," he said. "This could be done by introducing a minimum unit price of 50p which would cut alcohol-related hospital admissions, crimes and absence days from work."

The BLT wants supermarkets to stop offering heavily discounted alcoholic drinks, and says that including a bottle of wine in a £10 "credit crunch" meal deal "gives the message that sharing a bottle of wine is just an everyday meal".

Chief Executive Alison Rogers said: "There are a wide range of long-term measures that need to be put in place to stop people needlessly dying from alcohol misuse. Yet, there are some very simple steps and quick wins that would dramatically reduce levels of alcohol consumption."

Louise Rhymes, whose daughter Stacey died at the age of 24 from alcoholic liver disease, last year released a photograph of her dying in hospital to drive the message home.

She said: "So much more needs to be done to educate and prevent young people drinking to excess. I lost my daughter through alcohol, I'd hate for other parents to experience the same. Living each day without Stacey is just so hard."