PLANS to introduce a minimum price for alcohol need to be part of a wider exploration of society's view of drinking, Nottingham experts have claimed.
The Government outlined plans to introduce a 45p minimum charge per unit of alcohol yesterday, arguing it will help reduce the levels of ill-health and crime related to alcohol.
The Home Office has launched a ten-week consultation on the plan, which was first mooted in March at a lower 40p minimum per unit.
The plan has polarised opinion nationally, with the drinks industry warning it would hit consumers hard.
But Mark Holmes, a nurse at the Nottinghamshire Recovery Partnership, which specialises in treating people with alcohol problems, welcomed the idea.
He said: "The only way of controlling the sale of strong ciders and lagers – which are often sold cheaper than bottled water – is to actually enforce this minimum unit price.
"This has got to be part of a wider look at our culture and how we deal with binge drinking. We know actually the biggest binge drinkers are people aged 35 to 55."
Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) Trust says 1,477 people have been admitted to accident and emergency departments or hospital for alcohol-related issues this year up to Tuesday.
It said 1,536 people were treated last year and 1,519 in 2010.
Mr Holmes added: "A minimum price per unit will only affect a small amount of people anyway. But we don't want it to be a sticking plaster over the bigger problem of a huge amount of people ending up in hospital or being prosecuted as a result of drinking."
The 45p minimum would mean a can of strong lager could not be sold for less than £1.56 and a bottle of wine below £4.22.
But recovering alcoholic Mike McGill, who ran counselling service Alcohol and Drugs Educational Programme and Training (ADEPT) in Nottingham for six years, said: "It will make very little difference.
"It might hit people's pockets but the truth is people with chronic alcoholism will get it any way they can, including stealing.
"I don't think introducing a minimum unit price will stop or reduce alcoholism.
"That needs to be done through therapy, counselling, and abstinence."
ADEPT offered counselling to recovering alcoholics and drug addicts from a base in Mansfield Road.
It closed in December last year after having its funding cut.
Mr McGill is now in the process of forming a new company, Community Therapy Services, based in Sherwood, to offer similar services.
Mr McGill, 58, who has been sober for 20 years, added: "Alcoholism is a huge problem in Notts.
"Hitting people in the pocket won't solve the underlying problem. Services are drastically needed."
The Post reported in August how the city's latest annual local alcohol profile showed it was "significantly worse" than national averages in 12 out of 25 key health indicators. They included life expectancy and the number of alcohol-related hospital admissions.
The figures showed drinking problems are reducing Notts men's life expectancy by 11.4 months, and women's by 4.9 months.
The Government's proposal is not expected to affect pubs and other licensed premises – known as on-trade alcohol retailers – where alcohol is sold for consumption on the premises.
In 2010, the average price per unit of alcohol in the on-trade was £1.34.
But the Home Office says retailers that sell alcohol at very low or heavily discounted prices could be affected, for example, through promotions that result in heavily discounted alcohol.
The consultation on the Government's plan runs until February 6.
The Government is also considering banning multi-buy promotions in shops and off-licences, reviewing mandatory licensing conditions to try and combat "irresponsible" promotions in pubs and clubs, and cutting red tape for responsible businesses. For more information about the consultation visit www.homeoffice.gov.uk.
See Saturday's Post for reaction from consumers and businesses.
