Saturday 28 September 2013

Minimum pricing by stealth...

****

The campaign against minimum pricing for alcohol - a unwarranted and unjustified impost on the less well of - seems to have been success, at least for the time being. Or so says the Wine and Spirits Trade Association: 

Minimum alcohol pricing looks set to stay off the UK Government's policy agenda until at least the next General Election, the chief executive of the country's Wine & Spirit Trade Association has said. 

Crack open the bubbly folks, good cheer for all - including the poorest in the land - we can toast a successful campaign.

Or can we? Here's something from Alcohol Concerns 'Guide to Alcohol for Councillors':

Consider introducing a by-law to establish local or regional minimum pricing which is being looked at by local authorities in the north West.

This document - riddled with misinformation and inaccuracies (including the shocking lie that alcohol problems are getting worse when they aren't) - is being sent out across the land to Councillors. And if ever there were a bunch of people tempted by the New Puritan message it's Councillors - we love a nice ban, a new control or a new power.

So my cavalier friends the game has shifted - now you need to get hold of your local councillor and make the case for alcohol. The case about thousands of jobs, hundreds of businesses and the pleasure of the millions who elect us councillors.

Otherwise you'll get minimum pricing by stealth.

...


Minimum alcohol pricing looks set to stay off the UK Government's policy agenda until at least the next General Election, the chief executive of the country's Wine & Spirit Trade Association has said.
Read more at http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/584393/minimum-alcohol-pricing-off-the-uk-policy-agenda-says-wsta-chief#mcY3BLie5v2UP4JC.99
Minimum alcohol pricing looks set to stay off the UK Government's policy agenda until at least the next General Election, the chief executive of the country's Wine & Spirit Trade Association has said.
Read more at http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/584393/minimum-alcohol-pricing-off-the-uk-policy-agenda-says-wsta-chief#mcY3BLie5v2UP4JC.99

1 comment:

Kin_Free said...

The game has already changed in the north east.

Was this the pilot scheme "designed to maintain the quality of the city centre, control crime and disorder and improve health."?

http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/news-story/newcastle-leads-way-minimum-pricing