In reaction to the news that the UK Government will not introduce minimum unit pricing, health advisers to the government have resigned. Cancer Research UK, the Faculty of Public Health, and the UK Health Forum as well as key adviser Nick Sheron all resigned from the Department of Health’s alcohol network, which drives efforts to promote responsible drinking, in protest.
Both Cancer Research UK and Alcohol Research UK condemned the decision and accused the government of caving in to “shameful” lobbying from the drinks industry.
Nick Sheron, resigned as co-chair of the Department of Health’s alcohol network in protest at the decision. Cancer Research UK, the Faculty of Public Health, and the UK Health Forum also formally withdrew from the alcohol network, which is part of the department’s Responsibility Deal, in which the government cooperates with the alcohol industry.
In a joint statement, they said they were “extremely disappointed” that David Cameron had decided to abandon the plan to “save lives” by banning the sale of the cheapest drinks.
Source: Telegraph.co.uk 07/17/13