Tories urge drink measure change
MEASURING alcohol consumption in centilitres rather than in units would cut problem drinking, the Tories said yesterday.
They claimed a scheme based on metric amounts of alcohol in drinks would be clearer – even though pubs serve beer in pints.
Conservative leader David Cameron said the approach was led by “one of the oldest pieces of medical wisdom – prevention is better than cure’’.
But retailers and health campaigners warned it would cause confusion and expense.
British Retail Consortium director general Stephen Robertson said: “We’d need evidence that changing would produce benefits outweighing the cost and confusion.”
Prof Alan Maryon-Davis of the UK Faculty of Public Health said: “It would undo 30 years of public education about alcohol.”
Alcohol Concern said most people had the hang of units and there should be mandatory rules.