Martin Hickman: The price will stay the same - and the wine get worse
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.In backing a minimum price, David Cameron is over-ruling his Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, who believes individual willpower and the tobacco, alcohol and junk food giants will voluntarily improve our health.
Common-sense and the statistics are on the Prime Minister’s side. Some 21 per cent of women and 31 per cent of men drink hazardously or harmfully and in England the financial cost is £55bn a year – £1,069 per person.
The price of booze has fallen for decades and raising it will reduce demand. According to the University of Sheffield, a 40p minimum price will cut hospital admissions by 41,000 and save £116m in health and other costs.
Most drinkers won’t notice the difference. At 40p a unit, only one in 10 products will rise in price, notably bottles of strong cider, slabs of lager and cheap bottles of gin, vodka and whisky. According to The Grocer, a two-litre bottle of Strongbow will jump from £3.23 to £4.24 and a 700ml bottle of Bushmills whisky from £10 to £16.90. Three bottles of wine for a tenner will cost an extra £1 or, more likely, the price will stay the same - and the wine get worse.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments