Open Letter to UK Government on Minimum Pricing

On 13 January 2010, EPHA sent an open letter to the Secretary of State for Health in the United Kingdom Andrew Burnham. The letter was sent in reaction to the announcement by the Secretary of State of plans to include a minimum price per unit of alcohol scheme in the Labour Party election manifesto.


EPHA has publicly supported the Scottish Government in its move to introduce this scheme and has worked at a European level to garner support. The Chief Medical Officer for England Sir Liam Donaldson also supports this proposal, but the scheme has faced opposition at a political level. Alcohol-related harm is an increasingly hot topic in the United Kingdom, where 10.5 million adults drink to harmful levels. Levels of consumption have continued to increase over recent decades as a result of the increasing affordability of alcohol, coupled with ease of access and significant marketing.

Please find the body of the letter attached.

EPHA related articles

- article 3799

- Council Conclusions on Alcohol and Health

- European Commission responds to question on minimum alcohol retail prices

- 5th Plenary Meeting of the European Alcohol and Health Forum

- EPHA Urges EU Presidency to Reduce Alcohol-Related Harm

- First Progress Report on the implementation of the EU 2006 Strategy on Alcohol

Last modified on February 12 2010.