Affordability & Accessibility of Alcohol

Caroline Lucas MP (Green, Brighton Pavilion) has tabled Early Day Motion 2264: Affordability and availability of alcohol and alcohol-related harm. The parliamentary motion, which is open to all MPs to sign, makes six very important points:

1. There is a link between alcohol-related harm and the availability and affordability of alcohol;
2. Action is needed to reduce crime, noise and ill health that result from over-consumption of alcohol;
3. Alcohol costs the economy in terms of lost productivity, criminal justice and health, which are a vast burden local authorities and public services;
4. Affordability of alcohol in off-licences and supermarkets leads to the problem of `pre-loading' on cheap drink before a night out;
5. The Government's proposed measure to ban the sale of alcohol below the rate of duty and VAT is too weak to have an impact on alcohol consumption;
6. The Government should consider the options of minimum pricing and of a differential rate of VAT, to curtail retailers' ability to sell alcohol irresponsibly, which would allow our local pub trade to thrive.

Our Life has been campaigning on many of these issues, in particular, the introduction of a Minimum Unit Price for alcohol, which would reduce alcohol consumption and alcohol related harm. In an Our Life survey of 30,000 people across the North West, 80% said that they thought low price and discounts increased people's drinking. Just under half also said that they avoided their town centre at night because of the drunken behaviour of others.

Click here for more information on the EDM and to see how you too can support it. You can also visit the Parliament website to keep up-to-date with how many MPs are supporting the EDM.