Minimum pricing on alcohol will not get the green light, Justice Minister Judith Collins says.

She said such a policy would "hit moderate drinkers in the pocket".

The Government had signalled it was not keen on the proposal, which is being explored in Britain.

Collins waited for a report from Ministry of Justice officials based on a minimum price of between $1 and $1.20 a unit.

The report recommended waiting five years while alcohol reforms took effect.

Its authors said a minimum price would financially benefit the industry, retailers and suppliers to the tune of $131 million a year and have only a modest effect on harmful consumption.

Implementation, enforcement and monitoring would be difficult, and the regime was internationally untested, they said.

Collins said there was no compelling evidence in favour of minimum pricing.

Changes to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act instead "aimed to strike a sensible balance to curb the harm of alcohol abuse without penalising moderate drinkers", she said.