Commissioner Baird Calls for Action
7th December 2016
Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird QC is calling on the government to deliver an increase in the minimum price of alcohol and to reduce the drink drive limit.
The Commissioner has this week written to MPs in the North East asking them to join her in her campaign for a minimum price of alcohol following the recent report released by Public Health England reviewing the public health impact of alcohol and the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of policies for reducing alcohol-related harm. Commissioner Baird has raised the issue of minimum alcohol price and lowering the drink drive limit with government over a number of years.
Commissioner Baird said: “The recent report released by Public Health England sends out a stark warning that cheap alcohol is costing the North East more than we can afford. The North East has the highest rates of alcohol related hospital admissions and the highest rates of young people drinking in the country and I’m asking for all MPs in the North East to join me in calling on the government to take action now and deliver an increase in the minimum price of alcohol.
“We need to see an end of cheap alcohol sales of high-strength drink, mainly targeted at young people. There is firm evidence that an increase in the minimum alcohol price can improve public health and safety as well as reducing crime and it’s time for a change.”
The Commissioner is also backing calls for the government to reduce the drink drive limit on the UK’s roads and is confident that an increase in the minimum price of alcohol would lead to improvements in Road Safety.
She added: “Since 2010, national statistics have remained the same, with 240 deaths and more than 8,000 casualties caused by drink driving each year. It is not only drunk drivers who are affected: 60% of those killed or injured in drink driving incidents are innocent people such as passengers, pedestrians and cyclists. While the Government states that tackling drink driving remains a priority, more action is needed to save lives and improve safety on our roads.
“By increasing the minimum alcohol price and reducing the drink drive limit to 50mg (from 80mg) we can save lives on the road, bring down hospital admissions and help create a healthier region.
“A Private Member’s Bill to reduce the drink driving limit in England and Wales recently passed through the House of Lords and as Police & Crime Commissioner for Northumbria I have urged the government to reduce the limit to 50mg.
“I’m hoping that all of the MPs in the region will support me in this campaign and put pressure on the Government to raise taxes on the cheapest, most damaging alcohol products, and help save lives.”
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