The word on the street
Support for our Make it the Minimum campaign which calls for a minimum price of 50p on every unit of alcohol sold continues to grow.
The aim of the campaign is to bring an end to irresponsible cheap booze deals, primarily in the supermarkets.
Publicans, whose prices would be largely unaffected by the introduction of a minimum price, have shown support in huge numbers, as have organisations including the Campaign for Real Ale, the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations and Carling brewer Coors.
Other supporters include John Grogan MP, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, and the Liberal Democrats, who have described the introduction of a minimum price as "inevitable".
However, not everybody is in favour, with the British Beer & Pub Association and the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers among those who have spoken out against minimum pricing.
And despite the support that is being shown in the trade the government may not want to introduce a policy that could be seen as unpopular with voters already suffering in the credit crunch.
But how unpopular would such a policy be? We spoke to people in the pub, doing their weekly supermarket shop and on the street to gauge public opinion.
Chris Mann, 50, singer
"I would definitely be in favour of minimum pricing. The current deals offered in supermarkets do nothing but encourage people to binge-drink. If anything is on sale you are immediately more attracted to it, and the same goes for deals on alcohol. Raising the price would make cheap alcohol less attractive and could encourage people to drink in safer environments like pubs, clubs and bars."
Emma Whitely, 31, investment banker
"I wouldn't support minimum pricing. Why should we be penalised for other people's problems? I think that¹s unfair. It wouldn't stop binge-drinking either, because those who are determined to drink will just cover the costs and cut back elsewhere. Also, the suggested price increase won't make a significant enough difference for it to be a deterrent to binge-drinkers. Supermarket deals do help people to binge-drink, but even if the deals stop, binge-drinking will continue."Sebastian Holt, 26, financial adviser
"Minimum pricing is a great idea as it's high time the government took tough action to tackle binge-drinking and the associated violence and crime. Pubs are already really expensive, especially here in London, so as long as their prices aren't affected I think minimum pricing is long overdue. I tend to buy my drinks in pubs, but I wouldn't mind paying more in supermarkets if it clears up the mess we currently see on the streets every Friday and Saturday night."Bekim Arbri, 27, store supervisor
"I would support minimum pricing but I would want to add the clause that the extra money added per unit should not go in the supermarkets' pockets but should go to a charity which helps to tackle the problems caused by alcohol abuse. Supermarkets and their deals have caused a lot of the problems that we now have with binge-drinking, and if they can afford to sell alcohol as cheaply as they are at the moment, then they can afford to donate money to help solve the problem."
Richard Moore, 66, actor
"I wouldn't support minimum pricing because I don't think it would work. It's nothing more than a political knee-jerk reaction to an ongoing problem. Binge-drinking is a social problem and it needs to be addressed through changes to social attitudes, not by hitting people in their pockets. Alcohol is already very expensive and minimum pricing isn't the answer it would be impossible to enforce. If minimum pricing is introduced it wouldn't make me more likely to go to the pubs, because drinking at home and going to pubs are different experiences."
Amy Marks, 22, student
"For health reasons I think I should support minimum pricing, but as a student I think I'm against it because price rises really affect us. If supermarket alcohol was to rise in price it would make sense for me to go out more instead of drinking at home, because the price gap would be reduced"
Dorothy Jenkins, 60, retired
"I personally would not support minimum pricing because I believe pricing should find its own natural level. Setting a minimum price could reduce binge-drinking slightly but in the end if people want to binge-drink they will pay whatever it takes. It wouldn't necessarily make me turn to pubs and bars as a place to drink, but it would make them appear better value than they seem to be at the moment."Kevin Drew, 44, sales manager
"I wouldn¹t really be in favour of this measure because it will affect everyone, not just those who binge-drink and cause problems. If you like the occasional drink at home you will face paying more through no fault of your own. But I do have teenage boys who need to be protected from alcohol abuse, and raising the price could stop some youngsters from buying alcohol because they tend to be attracted by cheap supermarket deals."
Francis Wright, 22, works for a photography agency
"I absolutely wouldn't support minimum pricing. It's up to individuals whether they binge-drink or not, it's not for the government to control. I don't think it would stop binge-drinking if cheap deals are stopped then those who want to drink will find cheap alternatives. I buy most of my drinks from supermarkets and drink that before I go out, so if the prices were raised I probably would start going straight to pubs and bars instead."
The Publican is calling out to readers to back our Make it the Minimum campaign to crack down on irresponsible cut-price booze deals.
Licensees up and down the country constantly tell us of the pressures they face due to cheap supermarket prices, encouraging people to drink at home rather than visiting the pub. We believe government intervention and a minimum price of 50p per unit is the only way to bring an end to these, often loss-leading, deals.
Add your name to The Publican's petition backing minimum pricing. Sign the petition by clicking here
To find out more about The Publican's campaign visit www.thepublican.com/makeittheminimum or call 020 7955 3714.
