The politically independent Institute for Fiscal Studies calculates that more than 60% of all the alcohol sold in the UK would exceed the 45p per unit price proposed for England and Wales (Letters, January 15).
In Scotland the figure will be even greater as the minimum price will be 11% higher at 50p per unit. This would include more than 46% of all wine sales, 72% of lager and 85% of cider. It will only affect 9% of alcopops. The pretence that minimum pricing will only affect a few renegade drinks promotions is a demonstrable fiction which is not rendered any more truthful by the endless repetition of false assertions to the contrary. My own preferred choice of non-premium lager will rise from £10 per box of 20 275ml bottles to £13.75, a rise of 37.5%.
The minimum pricing of alcohol represents a new low in policy-making. The vast majority of people affected will be moderate, healthy drinkers who do no harm to anyone (including themselves). They already pay alcohol taxes considerably above the European average and are set to be punished further for the sins of others.
Chris McLaughlin,
71b Braidpark Drive, Giffnock.
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