BELIEVE the vast majority of people would be delighted if the Government does go ahead and shelve its minimum pricing policy on alcohol.

Unlike Reverend Peter Mullen (Echo, 15 Mar) I don’t think this U-turn has much to do with the marketing budgets of the drinks industry and big retailers.

No, it is much simpler than that. The Government has recognised that a huge majority of ordinary people do not want minimum pricing.

They know it will hit the poorest members of society, such as pensioners, the hardest and it is indeed an unfair “blunderbuss” policy that will punish far more drinkers who are responsible, than those who are not.

Also, the argument that it will help pubs is a curious one. Why should one business be penalised just because another is unable to compete? The beer tax escalator is not the fault of supermarkets, and neither are the high running costs of pubs.

Many people do not wish, are unable, or cannot afford to visit a pub and prefer to drink at home.

In a free society, surely they should be allowed to make that choice and be able to do so without further financial penalty?

Frank Boyes, Durham.

DEAR Home Secretary, We are writing to express our grave concern having read recent media reports suggesting that the Government is on the verge of dropping your commitment to a minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol.

We believe such a development would be a major backwards step in our collective attempts to reduce crime in our communities.

As you know there are strong links between alcohol and crime:

  • Around half of all violent crime is alcohol related;
  • More than a third of domestic abuse is linked to alcohol;
  • There are significant links to child protection issues;
  • Half of all violent incidents occur at the weekend when binge drinking is most prevalent.

While crime rates are falling in the three force areas in the North East, the link between cheap alcohol and crime and disorder is undeniable.

We have the highest rates of alcohol related hospital admissions; the highest numbers of under 18s receiving specialist treatment; and the overall cost to the economy of dealing with all of these problems is £1 bn a year.

While sections of the global alcohol industry have been active in trying to undermine confidence in minimum unit price, the independent evidence supporting its introduction gets stronger by the day.

We already know from the Sheffield University research that minimum pricing will save lives and cut crime by targeting the cheap, mass-produced ciders and spirits consumed by young people and harmful drinkers, while leaving the prices in our pubs untouched.

Minimum Unit price has the support of the majority of people in the North East. It is supported by our GPs and our police officers. It is even supported by those people who run our pubs.

We urge you to follow the independent evidence – for the sake of the people of the North- East and the frontline services that support them.

Barry Coppinger, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland Ron Hogg, Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Mrs Vera Baird, Police and Crime Commissioner, Northumbria Police Force.