England urged to bring in minimum unit price on alcohol as deaths rise 10% a year

Health leaders tell government to follow Scotland and Wales on cost of cheap booze after Darzi report on death toll

Ministers are facing pressure to introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol after Lord Darzi's investigation into the NHS highlighted the alarming" death toll in England caused by cheap drink.

Public health leaders are this weekend calling for urgent action to increase the price of cheap alcohol in supermarkets and off-licences. A two-litre bottle of cider can be bought in England for under 2, which equates to 22p per unit of alcohol.