The UK government says it is developing plans to tackle alcohol abuse Wales’ chief medical officer has called for powers to be able to introduce tougher controls on alcohol to tackle “the binge drinking culture”.
Dr Tony Jewell backed Health Minister Edwina Hart’s call for the assembly government to have powers over alcohol licensing.
He said too many people in Wales still drank too much.
But the UK government, which controls the regulations, said there were no plans to devolve alcohol licensing.
“One of the most effective things we can do to control alcohol abuse is to increase pricing”
Tony Jewell Chief medical officer
Dr Jewell’s annual report, to be published later this week, says 45% of adults report drinking more than is recommended every day.
The report for 2008/09 says there were more than 16,000 referrals to treatment agencies for alcohol misuse.
He told BBC Radio Wales that alcohol was “extremely cheap” compared to 30 years ago.
He said: “Prices have fallen dramatically since 1980. One of the most effective things we can do to control alcohol abuse is to increase pricing.
‘Serious issues’
“We know that minimum pricing and increasing licensing powers has an effect of reducing binge drinking and reducing anti-social behaviour.”
He said a 40p minimum price would cost a moderate drinker 11p a week.
In his report, Dr Jewell, said: “I believe that the only way to really tackle this problem is for the Assembly Government to have the necessary power to make changes to the controls on sale of alcohol in Wales.”
A Welsh Office spokesperson said the UK coalition government’s programme “makes clear our determination to overhaul the 24-hour licensing and tackle alcohol-fuelled crime and we are currently consulting on a range of measures to take this forward.
“It is essential that there is a joined-up approach to tackle these serious issues in England and Wales.
“We will continue to work with the Welsh Assembly Government as proposals are developed, however there are no plans to devolve alcohol licensing to Wales.”
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