New public health agency backs calls for minimum price on alcohol

The new national agency in charge of public health in England has backed proposals to establish a minimum price on a unit of alcohol to try to curb the harmful effects of drinking.

Public Health England, which is set to take on national responsibility for tackling public health challenges from 1 April, said that the available evidence supported the introduction of a minimum price per unit of alcohol and urged the government to use this evidence as its guide, as ministers weigh up whether to implement the measure.

Earlier this month the prime minister, David Cameron, told MPs in the House of Commons that the government was still examining the results of its consultation on whether to set a minimum price of 45p (€0.55; $0.72) a unit in England and Wales, amid rumours of …