It ’s been revealed that well-nigh one - third of intoxicant sold in England is consumed by just 4 percent of the population .
The results were discharge by Public Health England at a parliamentary debate regarding whether there should be a 50 - centime ( 70 - cent ) minimum monetary value per unit of alcohol in England .
Rosanna O’Connor , director of alcohol , drugs , and tobacco at Public Health England toldThe Guardianthat about 2 million people are drinking more than 30 per centum of the alcohol consumed in England , with most of this group buy cheap , high - speciality spirits .
Therefore , introducing a minimum unit price could be a respectable idea as it would affect those who buy the cheapest alcoholic drink . make alcoholic beverage more expensive would get some drinkers to reckon twice before expend their money , which could help people with health issues caused or exacerbated by alcohol .
The new damage would target the cheapest types of alcohol such as cyder . At present , a 3 - cubic decimeter ( 0.7 - Imperial gallon ) bottle can be buy for £ 3.60 ( $ 5.09 ) , but the declare oneself pricing would ramp this up to £ 11 ( $ 15.50 ) .
“ The outcome would be a pregnant impact on a little group of people . That ’s why it ’s such a targeted policy for such keen health gains , ” said O’Connor .
In November last class , it was reportedthat Scotland would become the first country in the world to present a minimum monetary value per unit of alcohol . This will begin on May 1 , 2018 .
After the decisiveness , First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon articulate viaTwitterthat this was " a bold and necessary move to ameliorate public wellness " . The hope is that it will help tackle Scotland ’s worrying binge - boozing trouble .
According toAlcohol Focus Scotland , in 2016 there were more than 1,265 intoxicant - related deaths , a 10 percent increase from 2015 .
The pricing legislation was originally passed in Scotland about 5 age ago but was have up due to a challenge from the Scotch Whiskey Association , although fortunately this challenge has been overruled .
However , there are now concerns that the pricing could fleetly do drinkers to swap their cans for drugs . Dr Michael Colvin , a paediatrician at NHS Forth Valley , toldThe Herald Scotlandthat some consumers could be at hazard of " addiction transfer " , moving from fuddle alcoholic drink to abusing drug .
" I do n’t think minimum pricing is a bad idea , it ’s just that I think there are other things going on in the population that might make it appear like a nonstarter , ” he say .
