Alcohol

Debate between Lord Bishop of Bristol and Baroness Williams of Trafford

Tuesday 6th December 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I can tell the noble Lord that alcohol related-costs amount to about £3.5 billion a year for the NHS.

[The Lord Bishop of Bristol]

My Lords, my understanding was that the Government’s view not long ago was that they had a problem with minimum unit pricing on the basis that it would unfairly impact moderate drinking. From what the noble Baroness said this afternoon, do I detect that the Government have changed their mind and that they are seriously looking at minimum unit pricing?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I hope that I outlined clearly that there has not been a change of mind. There was a pause rather than a retraction in the Government’s thinking back in 2013, given the case of the Scotch Whisky Association and the Scottish Government. We will keep the issue under review and review the policy in the light of that case.