MINISTERS have distanced themselves from calls for minimum prices to be imposed on alcohol.
The Government’s chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, is expected to recommend that shops be required to charge at least 50p per unit for drinks.
The idea, which is backed by health professionals but opposed by drink manufacturers, could double the cost of some drinks.
But the Department of Health indicated there was little prospect of the proposal being adopted while households were being squeezed by the recession.
Cabinet minister James Purnell went further, saying the Government would not “punish the responsible majority”.
If adopted, the plan could see a can of beer costing at least £1 and bottles of wine a minimum £4, depending on strength.
It is set to be outlined in Sir Liam’s annual report on the state of the nation’s health today.
Nuffield, the UK’s leading health charity, backed it, saying increasing prices was the most effective way of cutting consumption.
