MINIMUM PRICE FOR UNIT OF ALCOHOL

That this House notes the recommendations made by the Chief Medical Officer in his Annual Report 2008 to introduce a minimum price per unit of alcohol; further notes evidence of a link between price and level of consumption; recognises the damage caused by alcohol misuse to individuals, families and society; further recognises the concept of `passive drinking' or the consequences of one person's drinking on another's well-being; acknowledges that alcohol misuse costs the UK economy up to 25 billion per year, including alcohol-related health and crime costs; further acknowledges that 80 per cent. of people think that more should be done to tackle alcohol abuse in society; and calls on the Government to take steps to end the deep discounting and loss-leading sales of alcohol products and to make careful consideration of the recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer to implement a minimum price for alcohol as a means to do so.