Adam Boulton: 'Expect David Cameron to look again at minimum pricing'

The Sky News presenter warned the ALMR Spring Conference audience yesterday (Tuesday) to expect a tumultuous political period over the coming years. He said that while ministers would be seeking to court the industry it was likely last week’s report by Cardiff University, which suggested declining alcohol consumption could be a factor in the fall in serious violence, could prompt action by the Government.

He said: “If I was thinking of the issues which are likely to return to the agenda one of those certainly is the question of minimum pricing of alcohol. It seems to me the quite extraordinary media blitz we got last week with the figures on reduction of violent crime and the linking of that to a drop in alcohol consumption means that David Cameron is likely to doubling back once again – a u-turn on his u-turn - and revisit minimum pricing for alcohol, just as he doubled back on the question of cigarette packaging.”

He gave the delegation his view on the political climate.

He said: “Politically we are looking as I can remember of my adult life certainly one of the most uncertain period over the next couple of years. To a certain extent that may be a business opportunity in lots of ways because it’s going to be a time when people are going to want to be out and about. You have the great benefit of pub man himself Nigel Farage being apparently the most popular man of the moment"