WIREDGOV

Responding to the NICE guidance on preventing harmful drinking, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said:

'Alcohol misuse and binge drinking blights too many families and communities in Britain today. Over the past decade, alcohol misuse has increased, binge drinking has risen dramatically and alcohol-related hospital admissions have soared. We need an urgent change of direction to tackle this deep rooted problem.

'The Government is committed to taking tough action to tackle problem drinking, including the price of problem drinks, stopping supermarkets from selling alcohol below cost price and introducing a tougher licensing regime.

'Regarding NICE's recommendations on minimum pricing for units of alcohol, it is not clear that the research examines specifically the regressive effect on low income families, or proves conclusively that it is the best way to impact price in order to impact demand.

'Supply and price are far from the only factors in driving alcohol misuse. Demand and attitudes are crucial. We need to understand much better the psychology behind why different groups of people drink alcohol in excess. No legislation or initiative will work unless we have a better understanding of what drives people's decisions. The root causes of social problems lie not just in government policies — although 24-hour drinking legislation has severely undermined clinician and police efforts to get to grips with this problem - but in social norms and peer influence. We must work across Government, society, communities and families to challenge negative social norms and promote the positives.'