Less than one in five people support the government’s plans for minimum pricing and even fewer think it will tackle binge drinking, drinks industry leaders claimed today.

The new poll by the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) comes as it officially launched its campaign - “Why Should Responsible Drinkers Pay More?” in a bid to whip up public opposition to the plans.

According to the survey, by ComRes, 62% believe that the government’s plans to increase the price of alcohol will not reduce alcohol-related anti-social behaviour, while 19% support minimum unit pricing.

It claims 87% of people believe that binge drinking will continue irrespective of the plans.

“The UK already has some of the highest alcohol prices in Europe, and given that alcohol consumption has fallen by 13% since 2004, these radical plans to increase the price of alcohol seem completely unfair, untargeted and ineffective,” said WSTA chief executive Miles Beale.

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