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Poll: Should there be a minimum unit price for alcohol?

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A rise in drink-related deaths in one Black Country has prompted health bosses to call for a minimum unit price for alcohol at shops in the borough.

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Heath officials in Dudley want a 50p minimum price to be introduced on a voluntary basis as council bosses work with businesses to combat alcohol misuse.

They claim alcohol is also playing a role in violent crime, domestic violence and anti-social behaviour and want to get to grips with the issue.

But Government ministers have resisted calls to table new laws to legislate for a minimum price.

It comes as figures reveal approximately 142 people have died across Dudley borough from alcohol-related health problems in the latest figures available between 2009 and 2011.

Over the same period approximately 2,090 people died of related conditions in the West Midlands and there were 15,918 estimated deaths in England.

Public health leaders in Dudley say the increase in the death rates has slowed to one per cent year-on-year and they have now drawn up a new three year alcohol strategy.

It will be unveiled at the Heath and Well Being Board meeting on Tuesday at St Thomas's Community Network, in Dudley.

Valerie Little, who is director for public health in Dudley, says they were advocating a minimum pricing level as part of a measures to bring further reductions.

In the report she said: "The real change that would make the biggest difference is to tackle the affordability and availability of cheap alcohol and there are some limited actions that can be taken at a local level through voluntary agreements and greater use of existing flexibilities in the licensing laws.

"Advocating for a 50p minimum unit price would deliver noticeable health gains for those that consume large amounts of cheap alcohol.

She added: "Dudley has higher than regional and national rates of premature mortality from alcohol specific conditions and whilst the rate of male mortality has decreased slightly, the rate of premature mortality for females has increased."

Councillor Rachel Harris, cabinet member for health, added: "More work is needed but we are confident this alcohol strategy will bring together support and services to lower the number of alcohol related deaths." The strategy includes educating parents-to-be on issues of consumption of alcohol and the affects on unborn babies, awareness projects educating children on alcohol abuse and awareness campaigns on binge drinking for those aged 16 to 24 and responsive alcohol treatment services for early intervention for older adults.

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