BSG and BASL response: NI Parliament’s introduction of min price per alcohol unit
Date Added: 31/05/11
The British Society of Gastroenterology and the British Society for the Study of the Liver (BASL) are the professional organisations representing the views and policies of doctors in the UK including Northern Ireland who practice in the field of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Consultants in Gastroenterology and Hepatology are the main carers of patients with physical harm from alcohol in the hospital service. This response has been discussed with and approved by the British Liver Trust (BLT) which is the main UK charity fighting the burden of liver disease in the UK.
The BSG/BASL/BLT strongly welcomes this document which carefully sets out proposals for curtailing alcohol harm in Northern Ireland in comparison to each of the other UK and Irish legislatures. In particular it especially welcomes and endorses the visionary approach being proposed under Option 2.
The main conclusions that The BSG and BASL have come to in response to the Northern Ireland Parliament’s proposal are:
The BSG/BASL is strongly supportive of the introduction of a minimum price per unit of alcohol as it believes that the low price of alcohol is an importance driver of consumption both in Ireland and the remainder of the UK.
The BSG/BASL believes that Changes in taxation are not a suitable method for regulating alcohol prices. Increases in taxation will have the undesirable consequence of penalising those drinking within safe limits whereas the introduction of a minimum price per unit of alcohol specifically targets those drinking at hazardous and harmful levels.
The BSG/BASL believes that the social and health costs of alcohol abuse should be met by the alcohol industry. In England the higher costs associated with late night licenses are to be recoverable by Local Authorities though a supplement to the license fee. The BSG/BASL wishes to support any views expressed by Licensing Authorities (LACORS) in relation to this development. Perhaps this matter should be deferred until experience from England and Scotland has been assessed.
The BSG/BASL agree with the Second Option suggested by Northern Irelands Parliament which suggests introducing a minimum unit pricing in off licences and on sales in Northern Ireland.
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