Discuss - Crime Alcohol - Introduction of minimum price for alcohol

Should alcohol be subject to a minimum price to help stamp out crime and anti-social behaviour?

Alliance Party "Kieran McCarthy MLA said: "I believe that we should be setting a minimum pricing of alcohol in Northern Ireland to protect people's health and to reduce the financial cost of the consequences of binge drinking. We must look at a wide range of measures to tackle this problem but reducing the availability of cheap drinks is a straightforward option that could be done relatively simply." Source: Alliance Party http://allianceparty.org/article/2014/0009353/mccarthy-supports-plans-for-a-minimum-pricing-of-alcohol

Conservative "We do not yet have enough concrete evidence that its introduction would be effective in reducing harms associated with problem drinking, without penalising people who drink responsibly. We will tackle the most egregious examples of cheap alcohol by banning sales of alcohol below the level of alcohol duty plus value added tax." Home Office Minister, Jeremy Browne. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10185563/David-Camerons-plan-for-minimum-alcohol-price-is-scrapped.html

DUP "Support measures to reduce alcohol consumption including an end to promotions such as ‘happy hours’, banning the sale of alcohol below cost price and ensuring any introduction of minimum pricing is targeted at an appropriate level to impact on binge drinkers" - Source: DUP http://www.mydup.com/policies/a-healthier-ni

Green Party Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas has welcomed the Government's decision to introduce a minimum price of at least 40p per unit of alcohol in England and Wales in order to tackle the drinking culture. Source: Green Party, http://greenparty.org.uk/news/caroline-lucas-welcomes-government-support-for-minimum-alcohol-pricing.html

Labour "A Labour Government elected in 2015 would implement key public health favoured measures to address alcohol misuse, including minimum unit pricing and ending sports sponsorship by alcohol companies, according to leaked documents obtained by The Mail on Sunday." Source: http://www.alcoholpolicy.net/2014/05/labour-would-introduce-minimum-pricing-and-sports-sponsorship-according-to-leaked-document-.html and http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2619655/Labours-nanny-state-plan-drinkers-smokers-unhealthy-eaters-sparks-revolt-party-Red-Ed-says-FORCE-fit.html

Plaid Cymru "We want to see the introduction of stricter controls on how drinks are advertised and marketed, greater support for victims and witnesses to help people feel safer in their communities and a political commitment to restorative justice and community sentencing where appropriate." Source: Plaid Cymru website.

SNP "Action on alcohol - We all know that cheap booze is a root cause of too much crime and anti-social behaviour. Our plans for minimum pricing will reduce the flow of the cheap alcohol and make our town centres and neighbourhoods safer and more pleasant places to live." Source: Scottish National Party website.

UKIP UKIP opposes ‘plain paper packaging’ for tobacco products and minimum pricing of alcohol. Source: UKIP website http://www.ukip.org/policies_for_people

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