Minimum alcohol pricing "not ruled out", Home Secretary tells Echo (From Thisisdorset)
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Minimum alcohol pricing "not ruled out", Home Secretary tells Echo
12:00pm Monday 18th March 2013 in Latest By Will Frampton
TAKING ACTION: Theresa May
HOME Secretary Theresa May has told the Echo minimum pricing could still be introduced to help tackle alcohol abuse.
The MP was visiting Bournemouth to address business leaders from the 66 Club, which is connected with the local Conserv-ative Party, at the end of a week which saw her accused of positioning herself as a successor to the Prime Minister.
It also saw the government criticised for apparently shying away from a minimum alcohol pricing policy. Speaking before the event at the Marriott Highcliff Hotel in West Cliff on Friday, the Home Secretary denied the policy had been dropped.
“The government hasn’t taken a decision at this stage,” she said.
“We are still looking at responses to the consultation on this issue, and what we want to do as the next step will become clear in due course.”
She said tackling binge drinking and revellers drinking cheap alcohol at home before going out, is still a priority for the government. She also sought to quash rumours she is setting herself up as a potential successor to the Prime Minister.
She said: “David Cameron is a first-class Prime Minister, leading our party through very difficult and challenging times and doing an excellent job. “It is in the interests of the British people that he carries on as Prime Minister not only up to the next election but beyond it.”
Mrs May was due to speak to club members about the government’s successes in reforming policing, cutting net migration by a third and its achievements in welfare and education. Bournemouth West MP and 66 Club president Conor Burns said he was delighted she had agreed to speak at the event.
“Theresa is one of the big beasts of modern British politics, she has stamped her authority on the Home Office rather than being buffeted around by events.
“I hope she will offer club members reassurance that the government is committed to dealing with the deficit and getting the UK back to growth.”
l The Home Secretary also defended the government’s crackdown on student visas, saying the numbers of foreign students enrolled in UK universities have increased since it was introduced.
Her comments come days after the Echo revealed that English language tutoring is worth £207million in Dorset.
Comments(8)
dorsetjack
says...
1:28pm Mon 18 Mar 13
In this country we have a social disease of anti social behaviour and as usual the government is going to use a sledge hammer to crack a nut.
It's just another tax and the 95 percent of people who drink responsibly will be liable for the 5 percent that don't.
If increasing the price of alcohol will lead to less deaths or injury, then why not put up the price of fuel to 20 pounds a litre? That way we can reduce deaths and accidents on the roads because no-one will be able to afford to drive a car.
What a nanny state, punish the many because of the few. These idiots will still get hammered whatever the cost.
wonderway
says...
1:32pm Mon 18 Mar 13
H2o-hara
says...
2:39pm Mon 18 Mar 13
In France , Germany and other EU countries it is accepted for a youngster to have a glass of wine at a meal and that is then all . But over here it seems to be a fun thing to try and get somebody bladdered and introduce them into adulthood through boozing . Not clever !
l'anglais
says...
2:44pm Mon 18 Mar 13
Occasionally you'll see it, but not to the same extent as the UK.
We have more of an issue with our North Africans selling their cannabis and other mind bending stuff.
upyourpipe
says...
4:34pm Mon 18 Mar 13
anigel
says...
6:25pm Mon 18 Mar 13
You do not see the problems with drink or tobacco on the continent where the prices are a fraction of ours as people are brought up allowed to drink instead of it all being taboo and therefore desirable and cool to over indulge instead of just being a normal part of every day life.
Dr Strangelove
says...
9:17pm Mon 18 Mar 13
Ste-V-e says...
1:22pm Mon 18 Mar 13