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Minimum Price Per Unit for Alcohol
Topic Started: Nov 28 2012, 11:37 AM (187 Views)
rumbaba
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I'm not sure about this. What does it mean in terms of the price of alcohol and what is the impact on tax revenue? It's not a tax, so I guess if demand proves to be 'price inelastic' (I knew that Economics degree would come in useful one day :) ) then the winners will be be the supermarkets but , if it has the desired impact of reducing consumption, then tax revenue will drop in line with sales. I'm not sure if this has been done anywhere else, so it's a bit of an experiment. Maybe we will just end up with a better class of drunk, as the differential between cheap cider and better quality alternatives is narrowed. <bubbly>
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madfor4

I listened to a 'piece' on R4 this morning....IMO 'alkies' will always, like 'druggies', carry on as normal; those who get tanked-up before going out will carry on doing so (as the price still won't be anywhere near that of clubs). Those most affected will be social drinkers,,,
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Schrodinger's Cat
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At a minimum of 50p/unit, a bottle of wine (which is roughly 10 units) will be a minimum of £5. So wine which currently costs less than a fiver (which isn't really worth buying IMO) will cost the same as slightly better wines, so who would bother with the inferior stuff? Unless, of course, the retailers put up all their prices to maintain price differentials - which is what I suspect will happen <angry>
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madfor4

It costs £20 for a day return on the shuttle....So I'm sure France will welcome 'happy shoppers' with open arms... <beer> <redwine> <cheers!>
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waiting4atickle
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Yes, I was thinking that such a measure would benefit mainly the Channel ferry operators and the French economy. Cat may think it isn't worth buying a bottle of wine that costs less than £5, but poor folk like me, who are already being strangled by their belts, don't share that opinion. So, if this thing does come to pass - and the EU may have something to say about it - I sincerely hope that retailers do put up all their prices to maintain price differentials: I don't see why I should have to pay an extra 50% for my wine, while the better off pay no extra at all. We're all in it together, aren't we? <laugh>


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waiting4atickle
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By the way, does anyone know anything about the methods used by Sheffield University researchers? Judging by the "results" they come up with, as outlined in this news item, I suspect it may involve a lot of heavy drinking - and mine's a pint, ye ken.

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Lurkalot

There are so many pubs closing down these days that the only control for sale of alcohol is via supermarkets etc. how does one control the sale of alcohol for parties?

we've had control of advertising, now pricing, but has pricing really stopped cigarette smokers? I think not!

hic! <beer> <cheers!>
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rumbaba
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This makes for interesting reading.

http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2012/11/why-is-the-government-so-confident-minimum-alcohol-pricing-will-work/

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waiting4atickle
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That seems to hit the nail fairly squarely on the head, rum. So why aren't these criticisms being given more prominence? Or maybe they are and I haven't noticed.



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