GCXZ

The delayed Sheffield Study set out that a ban on below-cost sales (BBCS), which prevents the sale of alcohol below the cost of duty and VAT, would reduce overall consumption by just four hundredths of one per cent (0.04%). More importantly in harmful drinkers by only 0.08%.

Comparing the effects on health and crime of a 45p minimum unit price (MUP) and BBCS, their appraisal was stark. It would lead to 23,700 fewer hospital admissions per year with MUP compared with a reduction of just 500 with BBCS. The corresponding figures for reduction in crime were 34,200 versus 900.

I tried repeatedly in the run-up to the policy announcement on July 17, a cynically judged date just as Parliament went into recess, to obtain a copy of the report but was able to see it only minutes before the Statement in the Commons by the then crime prevention minister, Jeremy Browne (a complete misnomer in the light of the policy decision that he was about to announce).

Is this the way for government to lead by example on the need for open data and what message does it send to the NHS, academia and Pharma on transparency?

At a time when health professionals are instructed to reduce avoidable early mortality through the NHS mandate it cannot be right that such a vital public health measure has been withdrawn. Whatever measures that communities, councils, the police and the health service put in place to tackle problem drinking, they will always be undermined when alcohol can be sold for next to nothing.

As the delayed Sheffield study reminds us, BBCS will still allow the sale of cider at less than 10p per unit. The Government must review the use of data and lead by example.

Dr Sarah Wollaston is the Conservative MP for Totnes. She is a member of the Health Select Committee