British Retail Consortium: These proposals are simplistic

Andrew Opie of the British Retail Consortium criticises the government's proposal to impose a minimum price per unit of alcohol:

"It's simplistic to imagine a minimum price is some sort of silver bullet solution to irresponsible drinking.

"Irresponsible drinking has cultural causes and retailers have been hugely engaged in information and education to change attitudes to drinking.

"It's a myth to suggest that supermarkets are the problem or that a pub is somehow a safer drinking environment. Effectively, a minimum price is a tax on responsible drinkers."