The Government has broken its pledge to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol. The Church of England, the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church, the Salvation Army and Quaker Action on Alcohol & Drugs are deeply disappointed that the Government has abandoned this vital policy. Jeremy Browne, the Minister for Crime Prevention, has said minimum unit pricing will remain 'under consideration'. But his claim that there is not enough 'concrete evidence' to implement it flies in the face of five years of medical research. There were over 1.2 million alcohol-related hospital admissions in 2011-12 in England, and the cost to the NHS was £3.5 billion. The total bill to the taxpayer caused by alcohol misuse, including crime and lost productivity, is currently £21 billion. James North, Policy Advisor for the Methodist Church, said: "The Government's failure to introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol will cost lives. As Churches we are deeply concerned at the effect of alcohol misuse on problem drinkers, families and communities.

Pray: for all those affected by alcoholism and that any government policies adopted will have a significant impact on this problem. (Pr.20:1)

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