Dr Chris Record calls for supermarket cut-price booze ban

Jun 26 2009 by Helen Rae, The Journal

A TOP North East liver specialist is urging supermarkets to stop selling cut-price drink to shoppers.

The Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust consultant, Dr Chris Record, believes alcohol is being sold at a “ridiculous” price.

Dr Record said: “Alcohol consumption in the UK has been rising dramatically. You can get your recommended daily allowance of alcohol for the same price of a bag of crisps. It’s ridiculous.

“Pricing is an issue that must be addressed. People can currently buy one unit of alcohol for approximately 11p, which is far too low. I feel it should be priced at about 50p per unit.

“The affordability of alcohol goes hand in hand with increases in consumption.

“More and more I’m seeing young patients come in for liver treatment and more people under 40 are dying from alcohol-related issues.”

Three litres of cider containing 22.5 units (sufficient to kill a child) can be purchased for around £3, which is well within a youngster’s pocket money range.

Recent statistics from the Association of Public Health Observatories (APHO) revealed there are more than 115,000 alcohol-related deaths in the North East every year and half a million people on Tyneside admit to binge-drinking.

Dr Record added: “Supermarkets are making a fortune from cheap alcohol, which isn’t right as it’s badly affecting the nation’s health.”

And the specialist said he would also like to see the end to cut-price drink promotions and some limitation of hours.