Please click on the questions below for more information

• What is minimum pricing?
  • Minimum Pricing is the setting of a minimum price for alcohol based on strength. A minimum price which is legally enforced and prevents retailers from selling alcohol at less than the set price per unit of alcohol. We are proposing a minimum price of 50 pence per unit of alcohol. A minimum price per unit of alcohol has the largest affect on the cheapest and strongest drinks which is why it has attracted a wide range of support from health campaigners.
  • On top of the anti social behaviour and policing costs, alcohol costs the NHS up to £5.5bn a year, with a total annual impact of £3bn a year across the North West alone. Minimum pricing has been shown to be the most effective method to reduce alcohol consumption amongst young people and those who drink most (dependants) hence reducing costs to us all. The impact would be most visible in shops and supermarkets as that is where the discount selling is most widespread.
• Benefits of minimum pricing?
  • Raising the price of alcohol would have health benefits for all drinkers, not just the heaviest. A minimum cost of 50p per unit of alcohol would save up to 50,000 people from illness in a decade. Most of the harm reduction would be for people with chronic ill health, especially cardiovascular disease. A 50p limit would slash rates of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease as well as liver damage, a range of cancers and the more commonly thought of drunk admissions. Calculations show a 50p limit would mean 2,900 fewer premature deaths a year as well as 41,000 fewer cases of chronic illness.
  • It’s not just the impact on health! Cheap alcohol and excessive drinking puts a big strain on our other emergency services by increasing violent crime, domestic abuse, and criminal damages. A minimum price for alcohol will reduce this crime and free up the police for other work
• What are the government's proposals?
  • The government announced during March 2012 that they plan to introduce a minimum price per unit for alcohol to tackle cheap alcohol and the problems it causes. They have not stated yet what price they may settle on, and are consulting to help them make this decision. They have stated the impact that a minimum unit price of 40pence would have, but this was just as an example. A 40pence unit price would save approximately 900 lives per year, 2,000 less than a 50 pence unit price, and would save 20,000 hospital admissions, 30,000 less than a 50 pence unit price. The sale price at 40pence per unit would affect the average drinker by 7 pounds. The extra 10pence in the unit price makes big savings in our tax spend, and costs the average drinker less than 10 pence more per week!
• How will minimum pricing affect me?
  • Most people will hardly see a difference; the introduction of a minimum price for alcohol of 50 pence would affect the average drinker by just £12 a year. Whereas the average high risk drinker’s costs would rise by over £300 a year, requiring a reduction in consumption.
  • Simply click on the bottles below to see how minimum pricing will affect how much you pay for alcohol.
    • Jacobs Creek Chardonnay
    • Sainsbury’s Basic Wine
    • Stella Artois 440ml
    • Sainsbury’s Basic Lager
    • Guinness 440ml
    • Magners 500ml
    • Sainsbury’s Basic Cider 2L
    • Smirnoff Ice
    • Archers Schnapps 70cl
    • WKD 275ml
    • Sainsbury’s Basic Vodka
  • Each unit of alcohol costs the state £1.24 in health, crime and disorder costs – it makes 50 pence a unit a bargain!
• How can I find out about the wider affects of cheap alcohol?
  • To find out more about how alcohol affects your body visit – www.nhs.uk/Livewell/alcohol
  • To find out more about the harm caused by cheap alcohol and clever targeted marketing at young people, please visit this site and sign up to take action – www.drinkwisenorthwest.org