Well........The toffs are back in charge & they are starting to crack down on the poor people already!

Why should the rest of the poorer people in society have to pay more for their alcohol, just because some people can't handle their booze?
In the long term, this idea will solve nothing! It will only increase crime & illegal importing of alcohol! :rant:

Is this Sheffield specific?

Isn't it relevant in every city???

Don't fully understand why this is a terrible thing - and i think its long time overdue. People seem to have become relient on very cheap alcohol. This seems to have increased the amount of alcohol related illnesses and alcohol related crime (not sure why you say it will increase crime). The sooner that Supermarkets are restricted from selling alcohol for hardly anything the better in my eyes.

Well........The toffs are back in charge & they are starting to crack down on the poor people already!

Why should the rest of the poorer people in society have to pay more for their alcohol, just because some people can't handle their booze?
In the long term, this idea will solve nothing! It will only increase crime & illegal importing of alcohol! :rant:

Maybe people who spend half of their benefits on getting hammered every week will now think twice?

Don't fully understand why this is a terrible thing - and i think its long time overdue. People seem to have become relient on very cheap alcohol. This seems to have increased the amount of alcohol related illnesses and alcohol related crime (not sure why you say it will increase crime). The sooner that Supermarkets are restricted from selling alcohol for hardly anything the better in my eyes.

It will increase crime because it's a drug, it's highly addictive & people will stop at nothing to get to it!! If they can't afford it they will steal it & there will be a demand for it on the black market!

Making a minimum price is totally ignoring the roots of the problem isn't it??

I bet it ****** you off when your road tax goes up because of a few bad drivers doesn't it??

It will increase crime because it's a drug, it's highly addictive & people will stop at nothing to get to it!! If they can't afford it they will steal it & there will be a demand for it on the black market!

Making a minimum price is totally ignoring the roots of the problem isn't it??

I bet it ****** you off when your road tax goes up because of a few bad drivers doesn't it??

Road tax has nothing to do with bad drivers.

It's no coincidence that most of the trouble in town occurs outside the places that sell cheap alcohol as it attracts the idiots. I don't see much trouble outside All Bar One.

I don't think that this is a terrible thing, but I'm not sure that it's a valid intervention.
Some of the effects will be that a bottle wine with the average alcohol content will cost a minimum of £3.60
That might you think, not affect you, as you only buy wine that costs at least £5.00, except you realise when Tescos has a £6.00 bottle of something you like on a half price offer.
But worse than that, if you buy a £4.00 regularly, and the £2.00 nasty wine is now £3.60, what do think is going to happen to your tipple? That's right, it'll cost more. And you weren't a problem drinker, you just like a class of average wine in an evening.

And the extra money, straight into Tesco's pocket, not to the government to spend on alcohol awareness or on closing down off licenses that would sell to your 3 year old niece if she had the cash.

And that's just wine.
White cider will go from £2.00 for a 2 litre bottle to about £7.00
Okay, that'll stop the teenagers drinking it. But it will pretty much stop anyone drinking it, period. If you currently run a business making white cider you may as well close it down now. And putting people out of business isn't supposed to be the aim of government, particularly not now.

Road tax has nothing to do with bad drivers.

It's no coincidence that most of the trouble in town occurs outside the places that sell cheap alcohol as it attracts the idiots. I don't see much trouble outside All Bar One.

Do you see much trouble outside Tescos? This change will have no affect on bars, it's targeted at supermarkets.

Well........The toffs are back in charge & they are starting to crack down on the poor people already!

Why should the rest of the poorer people in society have to pay more for their alcohol, just because some people can't handle their booze?
In the long term, this idea will solve nothing! It will only increase crime & illegal importing of alcohol! :rant:

Actually the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) suggests a minimum price but this is not supported by the government.

I hear 40p a unit.

Who is that going to affect apart from folk who sadly find their life in the bottom of a cider or vodka bottle? Strong cider costs just 50p a pint or less from the supermarket.

Do you see much trouble outside Tescos? This change will have no affect on bars, it's targeted at supermarkets.

Yes. They have security staff constantly at the door and I've seen them used a few times.

I hear 40p a unit.

Who is that going to affect apart from folk who sadly find their life in the bottom of a cider or vodka bottle? Strong cider costs just 50p a pint or less from the supermarket.

40p a unit?

Shot of vodka = 1 unit. So £16 for a litre bottle of vodka. Costs that now, doesnt it?

Actually the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) suggests a minimum price but this is not supported by the government.

Watch this space!

The bootleggers will love this, Also the ferry companies.

I hear 40p a unit.

Who is that going to affect apart from folk who sadly find their life in the bottom of a cider or vodka bottle? Strong cider costs just 50p a pint or less from the supermarket.

What makes you think everyone who drinks cheap cider is an alcoholic!...........I'm quite partial to a bottle of frosty jack's myself! :hihi:

Will this also get people back into pubs? If it doesn't cost much more to drink in a pub because their prices are already above the minimum would this be good for the pub trade?

40p a unit?

Shot of vodka = 1 unit. So £16 for a litre bottle of vodka. Costs that now, doesnt it?

Asda's own brand vodka is equivalent to £12.53 a litre, so it'd be going up by almost a third.

As Cyclone says, if Asda's own brand cheapy vodka has to be sold at £16 a bottle, what are they going to charge for Smirnoff?

I hear 40p a unit.

Who is that going to affect apart from folk who sadly find their life in the bottom of a cider or vodka bottle? Strong cider costs just 50p a pint or less from the supermarket.

It'll affect people that like to bulk buy their lager when it's on special offer & other people that look for the lowest prices. The poor, basically.

It's starting at 40p a unit, no doubt Tescos will push for above inflation increases on that. Tesco wouldn't be arguing for it if they thought it'd reduce sales, it's just government backed price fixing.

It wont affect problem drinkers, they're addicted & they'll just pay more, steal it, or steal to buy it. If the price goes up too much it'll lead to more crime & a larger black market.

Will this also get people back into pubs? If it doesn't cost much more to drink in a pub because their prices are already above the minimum would this be good for the pub trade?

This is the only good think that can come of this.........Well, I can't think of any more anyway!

This is the only good think that can come of this.........Well, I can't think of any more anyway!

Maybe the chav's who currently run riot after a few bottles of cider will run out of pocket money quicker?

A further quick check on strong cider brings up 14p a unit on Tesco cider.

http://www.supermarketownbrandguide.co.uk/search.php?table=cider

This is the only good think that can come of this.........Well, I can't think of any more anyway!

You're grateful, then, that Cameron and his Tory party have spent the last few years consistently opposing a minimum price, and are still holding out against it despite health bodies demanding it be introduced?

I have noticed a trend for people to go out to the pub later. They instead get drunk at home first on cheap supermarket booze. They then go out to a pub, have maybe one more drink which tips them over the edge, and then they're really drunk and causing problems e.g. being sick, violent and aggressive behaviour.
This makes the pub they're in look bad, even though its not their fault.

It wont affect problem drinkers, they're addicted & they'll just pay more, steal it, or steal to buy it. If the price goes up too much it'll lead to more crime & a larger black market.[/QUOTE]

Correct! Some people don't realise, but alcohol is a drug & it's very highly addictive! If alcohol didn't exist & it was introduced into society today, it would be classified as a class A drug & banned instantly!

I have noticed a trend for people to go out to the pub later. They instead get drunk at home first on cheap supermarket booze. They then go out to a pub, have maybe one more drink which tips them over the edge, and then they're really drunk and causing problems e.g. being sick, violent and aggressive behaviour.
This makes the pub they're in look bad, even though its not their fault.

Maybe that's what the new doorman training is also intending to stamp out. On Sunday I was behind 3 girls, one of them couldn't walk in a straight line, kept hi-cupping constantly and shouting random things yet she got in the bar and was served. Literally minutes after she threw up and collapsed on the pool table.

Maybe the chav's who currently run riot after a few bottles of cider will run out of pocket money quicker?

Maybe they will steal from their parents or shops to get the booz instead?!

If people want something, they get it!! Thats why buying drugs is as easy today as it has ever been!

Well........The toffs are back in charge & they are starting to crack down on the poor people already!

Why should the rest of the poorer people in society have to pay more for their alcohol, just because some people can't handle their booze?
In the long term, this idea will solve nothing! It will only increase crime & illegal importing of alcohol! :rant:

This was a recommendation of The Health Select Committee under the last government - a proposal that was strongly supported by the committee's chairman, Kevin Barron, Labour MP for the Rother Valley.

It's nothing to do with "the toffs being in charge" - you can object all you like, but get your facts right first.

Sounds like a classy pub/bar you go to mate!:D:DWhich one was it?

It'll affect people that like to bulk buy their lager when it's on special offer & other people that look for the lowest prices. The poor, basically.
Nope, I'm pretty sure that it will push prices up for everything, and that includes whatever expensive tipple the middle class like.

It's starting at 40p a unit, no doubt Tescos will push for above inflation increases on that. Tesco wouldn't be arguing for it if they thought it'd reduce sales, it's just government backed price fixing.
Reduced sales will be compensated for by the across the board price increases.

It wont affect problem drinkers, they're addicted & they'll just pay more, steal it, or steal to buy it. If the price goes up too much it'll lead to more crime & a larger black market.
A black market... Maybe, maybe people will just go on more booze cruises or start home brewing.

There was talk of this under labour so lets not be hasty in laying the blame firmly at the conservatives door.

It will not address any problems it will just drive binge drinking underground and give rise to an illegal cheap booze trade.

Correct! Some people don't realise, but alcohol is a drug & it's very highly addictive! If alcohol didn't exist & it was introduced into society today, it would be classified as a class A drug & banned instantly!

It's moderately addictive, although you're probably correct about what would happen if it were discovered today.
But that says more about the current puritanical attitude towards recreational chemical use than anything else.

Maybe it will make a difference, but I don't think so,
What people have to realise is that there were alcoholics long before there was cheap booze on offer.

Just to add evidence to my earlier post - here is a story from the Guardian from January this year:

The government was under mounting pressure last night to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol in an attempt to cut abuse as a senior Labour MP called for an urgent change in policy.

Kevin Barron, chair of the House of Commons health select committee, which issues a major report on alcohol on Friday, told the Observer that ministers could no longer ignore evidence of soaring rates of addiction, and warnings of the crippling costs of abuse on an already overstretched NHS.

full story (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jan/03/minimum-price-for-alcohol)

So the tread title and OP are misleading - this is not a Conservative Party idea, whether you agree with it or not is a different matter.

This was a recommendation of The Health Select Committee under the last government - a proposal that was strongly supported by the committee's chairman, Kevin Barron, Labour MP for the Rother Valley.

It's nothing to do with "the toffs being in charge" - you can object all you like, but get your facts right first.

OK, I apologise for my mistake, it may not be a move by the toffs! I stand corrented!

Maybe it will make a difference, but I don't think so,
What people have to realise is that there were alcoholics long before there was cheap booze on offer.

It's targeted at 'problem drinkers' not alcoholics.
By which they mean the mean the teens who get drunk on a Friday night and cause trouble.

It's moderately addictive, although you're probably correct about what would happen if it were discovered today.
But that says more about the current puritanical attitude towards recreational chemical use than anything else.

Moderately addictive???!!!!! :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:

Pull the other one!

So the tread title and OP are misleading - this is not a Conservative Party idea, whether you agree with it or not is a different matter.

It is popular to believe that DC makes all the decisions all the time on all the issues. History began on 7th May 2010. ;)

Nope, I'm pretty sure that it will push prices up for everything, and that includes whatever expensive tipple the middle class like.
Reduced sales will be compensated for by the across the board price increases.
A black market... Maybe, maybe people will just go on more booze cruises or start home brewing.

The prices will go up the most on the cheaper drinks that are under 40p a unit, but you're right, prices will go up across the board.

It'll reduce consumption, but only very slightly, because alcohol is an addictive drug. So an increase in prices will lead to an increase in profits, as long as the competition aren't allowed to uncut them.

If alcohol becomes relatively much cheaper in Europe, it'll lead to a lot of 'booze cruises' & also more organised smuggling.

It is popular to believe that DC makes all the decisions all the time on all the issues. History began on 7th May 2010. ;)

I get it. History used to start in 1979, then 1997, now it's 2010.

And football was invented by the Premier League.

Is that right?

It's targeted at 'problem drinkers' not alcoholics.
By which they mean the mean the teens who get drunk on a Friday night and cause trouble.


Some clubs in Sheffield are selling DOUBLE vodka's for 50p..........And thats not during "happy hour", surely this sort of thing is more dangerous than cheap supermarket booze??

People should have to have a licence to buy alcohol, just as vendors need a licence to sell it.

Sounds like a classy pub/bar you go to mate!:D:DWhich one was it?

Was that aimed at me? It was Rise on West St. Usually OK but they had some bizarre dubstep crap on that attracted some very classy people...

People should have to have a licence to buy alcohol, just as vendors need a licence to sell it.

That's actually a very good idea.

People should have to have a licence to buy alcohol, just as vendors need a licence to sell it.

They already do.
It's called a birth certificate.

Some clubs in Sheffield are selling DOUBLE vodka's for 50p..........And thats not during "happy hour", surely this sort of thing is more dangerous than cheap supermarket booze??

I guess it will have an affect on a minority of promotional drinks like that then.
It would have to go up to 80p.

They already do.
It's called a birth certificate.

It should be similar to a driving license although instead of taking a test (such as downing 3 pints then walking on a tight rope) you just purchase one when your 18.

If you're caught doing something stupid, you get 3 points. If you get 9 points you are banned from purchasing alcohol. Shops and bars could easily adapt a swipe card reader for the card you carry.

They already do.
It's called a birth certificate.

The last time I looked at my Birth Certificate it didn't have a current photograph on it.

It should be similar to a driving license although instead of taking a test (such as downing 3 pints then walking on a tight rope) you just purchase one when your 18.

If you're caught doing something stupid, you get 3 points. If you get 9 points you are banned from purchasing alcohol. Shops and bars could easily adapt a swipe card reader for the card you carry.

Do you have to take a drinking test before you can get your licence?? :hihi:

Its not the price of alcohol that needs to change its the attitude of the english towards drink. It's clutural, English people drink to get drunk, and that's the case wether you are on the dole or pulling in £50+ grand a year. A mininum price on alcohol will do nothing to discorage binge drinking, unfortunatly drinking at the weekend so so ingrained into our national psyche that we'll do it regarless of the cost therfore those at the poorer end of the scale will suffer whether they drink responsibly or not.

Unfortunately attitudes are more difficult/expensive to change than prices, so the gorvernment are going for the easy, revenue earning, ineffective option. No change there then.

Unfortunately attitudes are more difficult/expensive to change than prices, so the gorvernment are going for the easy, revenue earning, ineffective option.


Not true. The Government are the ones who don't want to introduce minimum prices; the health professionals are trying to convince them to do so.

What's so bad about people getting drunk anyway? 99% of people who get drunk are no danger to anyone else, it's just the media exaggerates stories about the 1% that do.

Treat people like adults and they'll behave like adults. Treat people like kids and they'll behave like kids.

Its not the price of alcohol that needs to change its the attitude of the english towards drink. It's clutural, English people drink to get drunk, and that's the case wether you are on the dole or pulling in £50+ grand a year.

I agree, I have never been fully Compos Mentis on a Friday night since 1972, not proud of it though, that's just the way it is.

What's so bad about people getting drunk anyway? 99% of people who get drunk are no danger to anyone else, it's just the media exaggerates stories about the 1% that do.

Treat people like adults and they'll behave like adults. Treat people like kids and they'll behave like kids.

I'd invite you to visit your local A&E and tell that to the nurses who have been attacked on a regular basis.

I'd invite you to visit your local A&E and tell that to the nurses who have been attacked on a regular basis.

Okay then. Are you one of them or do you think what you see on "Casualty" goes on in real life?

Okay then. Are you one of them or do you think what you see on "Casualty" goes on in real life?

Thats a bit of a sweeping statement to make isn't it? Nurses ARE regularly attacked at work by drunk people!

Plus, I believe that 90% of the story lines in causality are based on true stories.

Okay then. Are you one of them or do you think what you see on "Casualty" goes on in real life?

I'm not one of them no, but a relative worked in A&E on and off in Stockport for 30 years and was attacked a dozen times. Most of the attacks happened in the last 10 years.

I read in the metro that the idea was that they are suggesting the "minimum cost" to be cost price, ie supermarkets would not be able to subsidise alcohol. Sounds like a good idea to me, they should do it with milk and many other goods.

I'm not one of them no, but a relative worked in A&E on and off in Stockport for 30 years and was attacked a dozen times. Most of the attacks happened in the last 10 years.

That's unfortunate but hospital staff can be attacked by any kind of people - it's not just drunks, it can be druggies, nutters or just people upset that their loved ones aren't getting preferential treatment in hospital.

That doesn't change the fact that 99% of people who drink are no danger to anyone else and shouldn't be penalised for the minority who can't take their drink.

One of the government suggestions is not selling below cost price. The medical body that is in the news today doesn't like that proposal as white cider is very cheap to make.

I read in the metro that the idea was that they are suggesting the "minimum cost" to be cost price, ie supermarkets would not be able to subsidise alcohol. Sounds like a good idea to me, they should do it with milk and many other goods.

I'm guessing that you don't think that 3l of strong cider costs Tesco £1.12.

Has anyone bothered to search for this story online? If the OP had bothered to check his facts, he would find that his thread title is wrong, it's not Cameron who want to put a minimum price on booze, it's some "health watchdog" group called NICE!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/10207827.stm

I have no idea why we should listen to an unelected quango like this when all of us are quite capable of deciding how much alcohol to consume ourselves!

Has anyone bothered to search for this story online? If the OP had bothered to check his facts, he would find that his thread title is wrong, it's not Cameron who want to put a minimum price on booze, it's some "health watchdog" group called NICE!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/10207827.stm


This was a recommendation of The Health Select Committee under the last government - a proposal that was strongly supported by the committee's chairman, Kevin Barron, Labour MP for the Rother Valley.

It's nothing to do with "the toffs being in charge" - you can object all you like, but get your facts right first.

Short answer - yes :-)

Homebrew FTW!

Maybe people who spend half of their benefits on getting hammered every week will now think twice?

Whats your evidence that people spend half their benefit money on beer?

Now let me guess...you are a Daily Mail reader. :hihi:

Whats your evidence that people spend half their benefit money on beer?

Now let me guess...you are a Daily Mail reader. :hihi:

Ah, you're one of those who hate a newspaper because apparently its "cool" to do so.

Incidentally, I haven't bought a newspaper in years.

Maybe people who spend half of their benefits on getting hammered every week will now think twice?

Or if they are that addicted they'll just spend 60% of it on alcohol and eat more cheaply?

Ah, you're one of those who hate a newspaper because apparently its "cool" to do so.

Incidentally, I haven't bought a newspaper in years.

Whats your evidence that its cool to hate the Daily Mail?

And you still haven't provided evidence of my first point.

This is just about the only potential Tory policy I fully agree with. A very smart move.

Don't worry too much about the likes of Tesco - they'll find other loss leaders to draw people in. After all that's what they did before the booze price wars.

Has anyone bothered to search for this story online? If the OP had bothered to check his facts, he would find that his thread title is wrong, it's not Cameron who want to put a minimum price on booze, it's some "health watchdog" group called NICE!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/10207827.stm

I have no idea why we should listen to an unelected quango like this when all of us are quite capable of deciding how much alcohol to consume ourselves!

Have you bothered to read all the posts in this topic??? I've already mentioned that i'm aware of this fact! It was something I heard on my way out of the house this morning..............Plus I don't like David Cameron!

Don't fully understand why this is a terrible thing - and i think its long time overdue. People seem to have become relient on very cheap alcohol. This seems to have increased the amount of alcohol related illnesses and alcohol related crime (not sure why you say it will increase crime). The sooner that Supermarkets are restricted from selling alcohol for hardly anything the better in my eyes.

First off, I think it has very little to do with health, otherwise why not ban alcohol and cigarettes altogether, or even stop sending people out to get shot in wars ... which is very bad for your health?

I think it has more to do with trying to curb perceived antisocial behaviour and possible increased taxes.

Besides, people will just start brewing their own or find a substitute to get their kicks. The government will make themselves even more unpopular, if that's possible.

why not ban alcohol and cigarettes altogether,

Pandora's Box

Besides, people will just start brewing their own

Exactly - might as well make money out of it. I think this is to try and maximise the profits - more tax, less hospital treatment (they hope).

Pandora's Box



Exactly - might as well make money out of it. I think this is to try and maximise the profits - more tax, less hospital treatment (they hope).

I hear ya, but when they privatise the NHS I should imagine they'd want all the customers they can get since the hospitals will have stopped being funded by the state.

I hear ya, but when they privatise the NHS

Not going to happen.

Well the MP's won't be bothered about price increases will they, we will still be subsidising their bars in the Houses of Parliament where they can smoke as well. Never mind we are just the people that vote them in and let them get on the gravy train.

:huh: I read on the BBC website today that the coalition government does NOT support minimum pricing for alcohol?!

Either way I don't care, booze is a treat for me and a little extra cost wouldn't make much difference.

I dont see how raising the price of alcohol persecutes responsible drinkers.

How many responsible drinkers drink their recommended weekly allowance of 21 for men/14 for women units in White Lightening or Tesco Value Vodka?

Have you noticed all these people on the tv news in favour of the minimum pricing are people on high salaries who will not notice the extra increase.

Can't come soon enough. Well done Mr Cameron:clap:
Too many people are addicted to alcohol and the sad thing about it is that they don't even realise it themselves.

Can't come soon enough. Well done Mr Cameron:clap:
Too many people are addicted to alcohol and the sad thing about it is that they don't even realise it themselves.

So the answer to their problems is to make alcohol unaffordable to them is it?

Think about it?!?!?!?!:loopy:

Well........The toffs are back in charge & they are starting to crack down on the poor people already!

Why should the rest of the poorer people in society have to pay more for their alcohol, just because some people can't handle their booze?
In the long term, this idea will solve nothing! It will only increase crime & illegal importing of alcohol! :rant:

Another thread that is a pack of lies. There is absolutely no truth to your claims whatsoever.

Government statement toay.

The coalition agrees that binge drinking is a problem, but doesn't support minimum pricing.

Another thread that is a pack of lies. There is absolutely no truth to your claims whatsoever.


He has apologised for being in error on that point, but the thread title hasn't yet been changed to reflect it.

40p a unit?

Shot of vodka = 1 unit. So £16 for a litre bottle of vodka. Costs that now, doesnt it?

It would be £8 for a standard 70cl bottle and about 11 quid for a litre bottle, not much difference to now really?

I dont see how raising the price of alcohol persecutes responsible drinkers.

How many responsible drinkers drink their recommended weekly allowance of 21 for men/14 for women units in White Lightening or Tesco Value Vodka?

Did you read the whole thread?

Did you read the whole thread?

No too pished. Could you shumerishe

Increasing the base price of alcohol will drive up the price of all alcohol, which means that it penalises everyone, not just those who drink too much cheap alcohol (or indeed those that only drink a moderate amount of cheap alcohol).

I like alcohol - it gives me pleasure.

What gets on my nerves most about this is the fact that I like to drink expensive red wine......but I can't afford it! Does this mean that supermarkets will no longer be able to reduce my favourite brands to half price?

What gets on my nerves most about this is the fact that I like to drink expensive red wine......but I can't afford it! Does this mean that supermarkets will no longer be able to reduce my favourite brands to half price?

Well as your thread is total nonsense and based on a pack of lies about a policy that's not supported by the government I doubt that it will make any difference.:loopy::loopy:

Increasing the base price of alcohol will drive up the price of all alcohol, which means that it penalises everyone, not just those who drink too much cheap alcohol (or indeed those that only drink a moderate amount of cheap alcohol).

I don't doubt that this would happen, but the supermarkets aren't going to have a good explanation as to why Smirnoff has to go up in price just because CheapCrappo Vodka is now £12 instead of £8.

I don't doubt that this would happen, but the supermarkets aren't going to have a good explanation as to why Smirnoff has to go up in price just because CheapCrappo Vodka is now £12 instead of £8.

maybe instead cheap crappo vodka supplies would go bankrupt-another plus!!

The last time I looked at my Birth Certificate it didn't have a current photograph on it.

No one said it did.

Neither do a lot of licences for other things.

I don't doubt that this would happen, but the supermarkets aren't going to have a good explanation as to why Smirnoff has to go up in price just because CheapCrappo Vodka is now £12 instead of £8.

Is an explanation required before the price change is in place?
I doubt that they'd stop stocking el cheapo vodka (since they now make a bigger margin on it), and I doubt that they'd price it the same (as no one would buy el cheapo anymore).
It's inevitable that a price fix at the bottom of the market shuffles everything above it up.

No one said it did.

Neither do a lot of licences for other things.

The nature of a license is that it's not automatically granted.
Birth certificate being a proxy of age does not grant you a license to purchase alcohol, rather after turning 18 it's no longer a criminal offence for you to purchase it.

It's still a silly idea though. Off licenses sell to the underaged now, why would an extra bit of plastic and/or criminal offence change that.

It's still a silly idea though. Off licenses sell to the underaged now, why would an extra bit of plastic and/or criminal offence change that.

They don't where I live, because they get closed down sharpish.

The nature of a license is that it's not automatically granted.
Birth certificate being a proxy of age does not grant you a license to purchase alcohol, rather after turning 18 it's no longer a criminal offence for you to purchase it.

It's still a silly idea though. Off licenses sell to the underaged now, why would an extra bit of plastic and/or criminal offence change that.

It wouldn't help anything.
People are already banned from purchasing alcohol by the courts etc.
That is the fairest method, not taxing the whole nation and making it out to be some moral crusade.
Anyone convicted of alcohol related offences should be banned by the courts from purchasing alcohol. I know they can still get it off other people but thats life.
Another point.
Will the alcoholics extra drink allowance be increased accordingly?

which means that it penalises everyone

Not everyone:thumbsup:.

It is all simply an excuse for extorting more tax out of people. We are far too heavily taxed as it is, the new government should be vastly cutting taxes for working people . It is OUR MONEY!
I want to pay LESS TAX...and if others suffer because of it, that is tough for them.

It looks like this is back on the agenda!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/8979765/David-Cameron-plans-minimum-alcohol-price-in-England.html

If you think we've got a problem with counterfeit/dangerous spirits now....
A good incentive for organised gangs to get involved with vodka and fags.

After reading the article I think we should remember that Mr Cameron is a Prime Minister and not a President.

It's worth noting that we already have minimum pricing.

And that minimum pricing has increased above inflation every year for at least a decade.

Same with ciggies.

Hence it's cheaper to buy on the black market. Hell, it's got to a point now where you often get better quality goods on the black market.

And the media keeps spouting the, watch out for the dodgy vodka and cigs stories, preaching about safety and ill health.
Yet your nan get's prescribed rat poison from the doctors.

The amount of duty on a bottle of vodka should warrant the queen/pm to wipe your bottom personally the day after you have drunk it.

Drinkers have got off lightly so far.if spirit prices had escalated in the same proportion to cigs then they would be nearer £50 a bottle than £15

Road tax has nothing to do with bad drivers.



"Road tax" has nothing to do with reality. There's no such thing.

Increasing the base price of alcohol will drive up the price of all alcohol, which means that it penalises everyone, not just those who drink too much cheap alcohol (or indeed those that only drink a moderate amount of cheap alcohol).

No, it benefits supermarkets (if it is a minimum price - rather than duty increase). It also benefits smugglers & the black market in general. People who retail alcohol will benefit from a minimum price, it's legalised price fixing, it'd remove some competition. That's why Tesco were so strongly in support of it.

You can't really penalise everyone, there are usually some winners & losers.

It seems this policy has made a comeback

Minimum booze price - BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17482035)

I think it's a decent idea. While it won't stop hardened drinkers I wonder how many people have fallen onto the slippery road to alcohol dependence off the back of the cheap supermarket multi-buy deals we've seen for the past few years.

If the three boxes of beer for £20 deals are legally forced up to £30-35 then I think it'll lead to a big drop in that type of purchasing by consumers. Probably too late for many people who have got hooked sadly.

Is it not a policy that is about getting poor people out of pubs, and creating more space for people who have lots of money?

Is it not a policy that is about getting poor people out of pubs, and creating more space for people who have lots of money?

Maybe, if you were very cynical.

To me it looks like a genuine attempt to influence consumer behaviour for the better.

There will be unintended consequences though - cheap supermarket spirits might not change much in price. It could be that per unit of alcohol they cost less than the multi-buy beer deals. People who have got drawn into problem drinking off cheap beer and cider might just switch to cheap supermarket vodka or gin instead. The policy probably needs to be more than just a blanket price per unit.

Another tax on the poor. Greedy supermarket giants have been crying out for this for ages. Every little helps when you're lining your friends' pockets at the expense of the poor.

If Labour had have done this, the Tories would have been bleating "nanny state" and "healthy competition". Funny how these Tory excuses are only rolled out when it suits them and their friends.

What a truly loathesome lot. Lib Dems where are you? What the hell are you doing about this bunch of lowlifes? You're allowing your power-tripping leader to sell you down the Swannee.

Maybe, if you were very cynical.

To me it looks like a genuine attempt to influence consumer behaviour for the better.

There will be unintended consequences though - cheap supermarket spirits might not change much in price. It could be that per unit of alcohol they cost less than the multi-buy beer deals. People who have got drawn into problem drinking off cheap beer and cider might just switch to cheap supermarket vodka or gin instead. The policy probably needs to be more than just a blanket price per unit.




So how will it change the behavior of someone who earns £200k per annum?

It clearly affects someone on the minumum wage

Another tax on the poor. Greedy supermarket giants have been crying out for this for ages. Every little helps when you're lining your friends' pockets at the expense of the poor.

.

I'm sorry,you've lost me there..if supermarkets wanted to charge more for booze then they've had the opportunity..why do you reckon they'll be happy now? Don't they use less than cost price booze to get people into the shops?

So how will it change the behavior of someone who earns £200k per annum?



Genuine question..how many of those are having to be cleared up from the streets on a Friday and Saturday night? Isn't the idea of this to try to stop the city centre free for alls that we regularly see..?

I'm sorry,you've lost me there..if supermarkets wanted to charge more for booze then they've had the opportunity..why do you reckon they'll be happy now? Don't they use less than cost price booze to get people into the shops?

You must be one of the few people in the country who is not aware that the supermarkets have been asking Brown and then Cameron to do this for ages.

In effect, they've been asking the government to 'price fix' - something that the supermarkets have already been fined for - in order to increase their profits.

Genuine question..how many of those are having to be cleared up from the streets on a Friday and Saturday night? Isn't the idea of this to try to stop the city centre free for alls that we regularly see..?

It's not cheap supermarket booze that is responsible for the chaos you see on the streets every Friday and Saturday night, truman.

Cheap supermarket booze is consumed at home. There is no correlation with disorderly behaviour on the streets that you see and Cameron's cheap booze tax.

The people you are referring to already pay through the nose for their alcohol on a Friday and Saturday night in towns and cities.

You must be one of the few people in the country who is not aware that the supermarkets have been asking Brown and then Cameron to do this for ages.

In effect, they've been asking the government to 'price fix' - something that the supermarkets have already been fined for - in order to increase their profits.

Interestinngly the Scottish supermarkets appear to want to sell it for less than the minimum pricing..

http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/scotland/minimum-alcohol-pricing-supermarkets-accused-of-bending-new-law-banning-cheap-alcohol-1-2060895

It's not cheap supermarket booze that is responsible for the chaos you see on the streets every Friday and Saturday night, truman.

Cheap supermarket booze is consumed at home. There is no correlation with disorderly behaviour on the streets that you see and Cameron's cheap booze tax.

The people you are referring to already pay through the nose for their alcohol on a Friday and Saturday night in towns and cities.

People get drunk at home on the cheap stuff and then go out..


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2926871/


http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-and-you/social-life/do-you-pre-load-before-a-night-out

People get drunk at home on the cheap stuff and then go out..


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2926871/


http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-and-you/social-life/do-you-pre-load-before-a-night-out

If that was the case, then the establishments in towns and cities are breaking the law serving drunks and it is THEM that should pay the price.

only the rich will afford to drink and smoke this day and age and the people thats not so well of will have to grow there own and make moon shine are buy it of the black market come on people going to smoke no matter what are drink so stop putting the price up

peaple also on the streets because its cheaper to get from the beer of than the pub i think thy going the wrong way thy should lower the prices so we can go to the pub and have a good time look the boozers lay empty because no 1 can afford to go out


in the past you no when it closing time 11pm every 1 got waken up if you went to bed early today its like closing time every hour of the day

Well........The toffs are back in charge & they are starting to crack down on the poor people already!

Why should the rest of the poorer people in society have to pay more for their alcohol, just because some people can't handle their booze?
In the long term, this idea will solve nothing! It will only increase crime & illegal importing of alcohol! :rant:

Odd then that you've ranted on about clamping down on booze on every smokng thread there's been. What a troll.

only the rich will afford to drink and smoke this day and age and the people thats not so well of will have to grow there own and make moon shine are buy it of the black market come on people going to smoke no matter what are drink so stop putting the price up

Cameron has got to pay for is 20 grand iPads and to put his 'stamp' on number 10, and to give tax breaks to himself and his friends and relatives, somehow.

It seems this policy has made a comeback

Minimum booze price - BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17482035)

I think it's a decent idea. While it won't stop hardened drinkers I wonder how many people have fallen onto the slippery road to alcohol dependence off the back of the cheap supermarket multi-buy deals we've seen for the past few years.

If the three boxes of beer for £20 deals are legally forced up to £30-35 then I think it'll lead to a big drop in that type of purchasing by consumers. Probably too late for many people who have got hooked sadly.

Minimum pricing already exists.

ban all booze and make cannabis legal, then start to tax that instead, the quality would be good and the attitude of the users is much better than drunks. plus the fast food industry would make a killing!!. alcohol related deaths and the strain on the nhs would be much reduced and they would save billions. its a win win situation :roll:

Odd then that you've ranted on about clamping down on booze on every smokng thread there's been. What a troll.

I think he's just attempting to make people see the hypocrisy of arguing that smoking should be banned whilst happily indulging in their own drug use.

Is it not a policy that is about getting poor people out of pubs, and creating more space for people who have lots of money?

I don't think this will have any effect on most people, only tramps and children who drink in the park.

Setting minimum pricing this low is just a gesture and will barely affect national health outcomes, it would have to be higher than 40p.
Any wine that is less than £5 a bottle is manufactured at a level of almost no profit. It does nobody any good to sell it for £3 a bottle and is basically driving small wineries out of business. As all the cost goes in transport, the glass for the bottle and tax.

The problem pubs have had over the last 10 years is that alcohol has been sold by supermarkets as a loss leader. Minimum pricing is just what pubs need. But it would have to be more like 80p per unit before it really made a difference.

Gosh, another U-turn by the Nasty Party

Do Britain a favour, an blow up the lot of em!! Tosspots !! :banana::banana::banana:

Ban nothing, legalise all drugs, let market forces rule prices. If people are daft enough to kill themselves let them get on with it.

BUT not at public expense. no NHS or benefitsd for the feckless.

Odd then that you've ranted on about clamping down on booze on every smokng thread there's been. What a troll.

I've used alcohol as a comparison to smoking. Both cigarettes and cannabis.

This policy is the opposite of what I would like to see. I think all drugs should be sold in a sensibly control market. Sensibly, being the key word here.

This policy is ludicrous!! The poor people are having their choice taken away, yet again!

Just because a small section of society abuse alcohol, the rest of us have to pay the price! Educate people about alcohol, about all drugs, in fact.

The wealthy are not going to be affected by this price fixing scam. They can still afford to buy the stuff.

How is this going to affect the poor? Are they going to stop drinking?

What about people who can only afford the odd drink every now and again? This policy is going to leave them no choice but to stop all together!

Cameron has got to pay for is 20 grand iPads and to put his 'stamp' on number 10, and to give tax breaks to himself and his friends and relatives, somehow.

You care to elaborate on this? Or are you just repeating the same rubbish other sheep say without really knowing what you are on about?

Ban nothing, legalise all drugs, let market forces rule prices. If people are daft enough to kill themselves let them get on with it.

BUT not at public expense. no NHS or benefitsd for the feckless.

Or tax each thing appropriately to cover the cost to the NHS and other services.

You care to elaborate on this? Or are you just repeating the same rubbish other sheep say without really knowing what you are on about?

Probably :)

Another tax on the poor. Greedy supermarket giants have been crying out for this for ages. Every little helps when you're lining your friends' pockets at the expense of the poor.

If Labour had have done this, the Tories would have been bleating "nanny state" and "healthy competition". Funny how these Tory excuses are only rolled out when it suits them and their friends.

What a truly loathesome lot. Lib Dems where are you? What the hell are you doing about this bunch of lowlifes? You're allowing your power-tripping leader to sell you down the Swannee.

How can this be a tax on the "poor"?
If someone is that poor, they should be spending what little they have on nescessaties and not spending it on cheap booze.
By the way, the Lib Dems are right behind the Tories, in case you had forgot, it was US (you,me and the rest of the voting nation) that voted them there :D

You must be one of the few people in the country who is not aware that the supermarkets have been asking Brown and then Cameron to do this for ages.

In effect, they've been asking the government to 'price fix' - something that the supermarkets have already been fined for - in order to increase their profits.

Most ridiculous post of the year award :hihi:

Supermarkets can charge what they like for their products now, why would they have to wait for anyone's permission to stop booze promotions?
Get a grip.

How can this be a tax on the "poor"?
If someone is that poor, they should be spending what little they have on nescessaties and not spending it on cheap booze.
By the way, the Lib Dems are right behind the Tories, in case you had forgot, it was US (you,me and the rest of the voting nation) that voted them there :D



Most ridiculous post of the year award :hihi:

Supermarkets can charge what they like for their products now, why would they have to wait for anyone's permission to stop booze promotions?
Get a grip.

So, let me get this right. The first part of your post. What you're actually saying is that poor people shouldn't have the right to choose to drink alcohol?!

With a minimum price on alcohol, some people have been forced out of the market. People that work hard for what little they get can no longer have a drink, is that what you're saying??

So, let me get this right. The first part of your post. What you're actually saying is that poor people shouldn't have the right to choose to drink alcohol?!

With a minimum price on alcohol, some people have been forced out of the market. People that work hard for what little they get can no longer have a drink, is that what you're saying??

So, let me get this right..
Your saying that, you can't understand what you read?

That's actually a very good idea.

Won't happen, for various reasons.

How can this be a tax on the "poor"?
If someone is that poor, they should be spending what little they have on nescessaties and not spending it on cheap booze.
By the way, the Lib Dems are right behind the Tories, in case you had forgot, it was US (you,me and the rest of the voting nation) that voted them there :D.

Speak for yourself, I didnt vote for them, and I certainly didnt vote for this cobbled up set we have now.

Speak for yourself, I didnt vote for them, and I certainly didnt vote for this cobbled up set we have now.

By voting the way you did, it enabled the government that we now have, get in ;)

Won't happen, for various reasons.

Such as? You really need to enlighten us...

Speak for yourself, I didnt vote for them, and I certainly didnt vote for this cobbled up set we have now.

Just think, had you got your way we could be like Greece by now.

Most ridiculous post of the year award :hihi:

Supermarkets can charge what they like for their products now, why would they have to wait for anyone's permission to stop booze promotions?
Get a grip.

They have competitors that wont stop. If Tesco stopped doing booze promotions then a lot of their customers would go to Asda or Sainsbury's or whoever kept doing the promotions, they'd buy the rest of their shopping there too. So Tesco lose out if they stop doing promotions & the others don't.

If they could all agree to or be forced into a fixed minimum price, then that is called price fixing. It means higher profits for all the supermarkets, at the expense of everybody else.

So, let me get this right..
Your saying that, you can't understand what you read?

If you're referring to your post, then yes, Im obviously having trouble understanding it. You'd better enlighten me!