The chief medical officer for England has recently proposed a minimum price of 50p for each unit of alcohol a drink contains.

This could see an increase in the price of alcoholic drinks. The reason for this proposal is to curb excessive drinking. I do not believe the rise in price will significantly curb excessive drinking (as successive rises in tax duty haven’t) and it will have harmful affects upon our already struggling pub trade. John Grogan MP has already shown how some pubs are struggling due to the global credit crisis. I also believe some pubs are also struggling due to increased bus fares to the town centre.

The Lib Dems have nationally signalled support for the alcohol price increase by saying they want to put an end to cheap alcohol, whereas the Prime Minister has said he does not want to place burdens on the majority of “moderate” drinkers.

I will not be supporting the chief medical officer’s proposal and I hope the Government rejects it. I will fight any such introduction on behalf of York’s pub landlords, landladies and patrons. We should be looking at the cheap price of alcohol at the supermarket and off-licences and supporting the great York pub.

Coun James Alexander
Chair of York’s Gambling and Licensing Acts Committee, The Old Doctor’s Surgery, Holgate Road, Holgate, York.