REDUCING ALCOHOL DEATHS

Early day motion 804, tabled 10 March 2004 by Kelvin Hopkins (Labour). Signed by 25 members.

That this House is seriously concerned about the high and rising levels of harmful alcohol consumption in Britain; notes with great interest the report published on 4th March by the Academy of Medical Science drawing attention to the crucial significance of price in alcohol consumption levels; emphasises the report's findings that only a 10 per cent. increase in the price of alcoholic drinks would cut deaths from cirrhosis of the liver by 5 per cent. for men and by 7.1 per cent. for women and would lead to a drop in all alcohol-related deaths by 28.8 per cent. for men and 37.4 per cent. for women; and therefore urges the Chancellor of the Exchequer to raise taxation levels for alcoholic drinks significantly and in real terms to reduce the human misery caused by alcohol abuse.

Signatures by party: Labour 20, DUP 2, Labour/Co-operative 1, Liberal Democrat 1, UUP 1.