RCN welcomes call for minimum alcohol pricing

Published: 02 June 2010

The Royal College of Nursing today welcomed the publication of NICE guidance on alcohol, which recommends that a minimum price per alcohol unit should be introduced. Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said:

“Everyday, nurses see the devastating physical and psychological consequences that alcohol misuse can cause. We are pleased that NICE has echoed our call to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol to stop this dire situation from spiralling even further out of control.

“It is well-known that lower prices can lead to increased consumption of alcohol. This can also be exacerbated by the unscrupulous, yet common, practice of extreme discounting which further encourages binge drinking. As well as introducing minimum pricing, the mandatory code needs to be strengthened to include tighter regulation on the labelling, sales and advertising of alcohol.

“We would also welcome legislation to ensure the health impact of alcohol on customers is considered before premises can be granted a licence, by amending the Licensing Act 2003 to add the protection of the public’s health to licensing objectives. Licensing laws simply cannot continue to be divorced from the realities of the negative impact alcohol has on health.

“These practical steps would help to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce the future burden of ill health on individuals, the NHS and to society. The government needs to act now to protect the future health of the nation.”

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Notes for Editors

For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact the RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.