Health Matters
I have argued for well over a year that setting a minimum price for alcohol is a bold step forward and the right decision. However, the government has a huge prevention blind spot in its alcohol strategy, which, unfortunately, may well end up drowning out measures to set a minimum price. Educating young people on the risks of alcohol has been removed from the curriculum, and the Government voted against Labour proposals for stronger licensing powers for local councils to take action in their areas. And just recently, for example, Ed Vaizey quietly ruled out taking any action on getting a grip on alcohol advertising.
There’s a range of significant measures that we need to seriously consider to start empowering people to make the healthy choice. Yet, the government’s position is a real mess because we have a Prime Minister at war with his own health secretary about the right course of action, when the figures show that what’s needed is proper leadership.