The Canadian study has found a 10 per cent increase in the minimum price of alcohol was linked to nearly an 8.5 per cent decrease in alcohol consumption.

The body charged with advising the federal government on preventative health, the National Preventative Health Taskforce, is soon expected to deliver the findings of a draft report into the issue of minimum alcohol pricing.

The concept has been condemned by the liquor industry, which claims the measure will unfairly effect older, poorer customers and do nothing to stop risky drinking.

However, the author of the Canadian study, Tim Stockwell, said research indicates the measure is one of the most effective policies the government could implement to stop alcohol-related harm.

''The evidence seems to be very clear that there's an overall massive health benefit when you do this,'' he said. ''Deaths from liver cirrhosis plummet. People say 'the alcoholic is always going to get their drink' but that doesn't apply in every case, otherwise you wouldn't see deaths from liver cirrhosis drop.''

The bigger the increases in minimum price, the bigger the effect on consumption, according to his study, published in the American Journal of Public Health.

High-strength beer, wine and cocktails were most affected by the price changes, with high-strength beer consumption falling by 22 per cent after the minimum pricing increase.

Professor Stockwell said he agreed that an increase in the minimum price of alcohol would hit poorer people harder, but his study showed it changed the behaviour of most drinkers.

''The heavy drinkers go for cheap stuff anyway but this was switching everybody to go for low alcohol content drinks … most people have a limit on their incomes and so it does affect most people,'' he said.

Professor Stockwell, who was responsible for implementing compulsory labelling on the number of standard drinks in alcohol in Australia, said any move to introduce minimum pricing was likely to be unpopular and subject to intense industry lobbying.

''We have done some opinion poll work and … about 85 per cent don't believe that if you increase the price of alcohol then heavy drinkers will drink less, and the annoying thing is they are totally wrong,'' he said.

He said when Australian governments were implementing standard drink labelling, some in the liquor trade had fought the process and claimed it violated international laws.

''There was all manner of politicking that went on,'' he said. ''I think minimum pricing will be the same sort of deal.''

The co-chairman of the National Alliance for Action on Alcohol, Mike Daube, said he would be surprised if the preventative health taskforce didn't recommend minimum pricing be at least considered.

''The Canadian research shows you can implement minimum prices in a smart way,'' he said. ''You can reduce alcohol consumption in high-risk groups and you can get people drinking less harmfully.''

Professor Daube said the tax system was skewed in favour of cheap alcohol, with cask wine available that was cheaper than bottled water.