ENGLAND must follow Scotland’s lead on minimum alcohol pricing – because inaction could cost 1000 lives within five years, it is claimed.

From today, alcoholic drinks carry a minimum charge of 50 per unit as part of measures to rebalance the country’s relationship with booze.

The Scottish Government says research suggests the change – delayed by a lengthy legal challenge by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) – will save almost 400 lives within the first five years.

Visiting a hospital ward treating patients with chronic liver problems, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon defended the change as “bold” and “brave”.

She added: “We are leading the way in introducing innovative solutions to public health challenges.”

Meanwhile, the Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA) a group of more than 50 medical organisations, has today urged authorities in England to follow suit, claiming that failure to do so could lead to more than 1000 preventable deaths over the same period.

AHA chair Sir Ian Gilmore said: “Cheap alcohol is wrecking lives and livelihoods in England as well as Scotland.

“There are more than 23,000 deaths a year in England linked to alcohol, and many of these come from the poorest and most vulnerable sections of society. Minimum unit pricing will save lives, cut crime and benefit the public finances. At the same time, pub prices will be left untouched, and moderate drinkers will barely notice the difference.

“We urge the Westminster government to act now.’”

The Scottish Parliament passed minimum pricing laws in 2012, but implementation was delayed by an SWA court challenge which went all the way to the Supreme Court. In November judges ruled it did not breach EU law.

From today, a two-unit pint of beer will cost at least £1 and a nine-unit bottle of wine will retail cost no less than £4.50.

In the first year, the change is expected to save almost 60 lives, cut hospital admissions by 1300 and reduce crime by 3500 offences. Around half of violent crime is linked to drink.

Sturgeon said: “It’s no secret that Scotland has a troubled relationship with alcohol. There are, on average, 22 alcohol-specific deaths every week in Scotland, and 697 hospital admissions and behind every one of these statistics is a person, a family, and a community badly affected by alcohol misuse.

“Minimum unit pricing is the most effective and efficient way to tackle the cheap, high strength alcohol that causes so much damage.”

Alison Douglas, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: “This is a great day for Scotland’s health.

“It is a triumph for public health and democracy – and a testament to the First Minister’s tenacity – that this policy is finally being implemented after ten years of campaigning.

“A global first, this lifesaving legislation will particularly benefit those in our poorest communities who are six times more likely to die and eight times more likely to be hospitalised due to alcohol than those in our most well off communities.”

However, Tory shadow health secretary Miles Briggs MSP said: “This is new territory and we need to analyse what effect this will have on consumer behaviour.

“That’s why the Scottish Conservatives supported the introduction of a sunset clause, so that if minimum pricing proves to be ineffective then it can be scrapped.”