Labour MP calls for minimum pricing 'as a matter of urgency'

A Labour MP has called on the Government to bring in a minimum unit price for alcohol “as a matter of urgency” to tackle alcohol harm through a petition among politicians.

Kelvin Hopkins MP tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) after a report by the North West Public Health Observatory found that hospital staff dealt last year with 1.2m admissions of people with alcohol-related health problems.

The EDM noted that the House is “alarmed that there was an increase of more than 50,000 such admissions during the year, including over 10,000 more in London alone”.

It added: “[This House] calls on the Government to bring forward as a matter of urgency legislative proposals that would implement a minimum unit price for alcoholic drinks and beyond that provide for comprehensive measures to address the UK’s serious and growing alcohol crisis.”

EDMs are tabled by MPs to publicise a particular event or cause, and to gather support among MPs for that event or cause. MPs demonstrate their support for an EDM by signing the motion.