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Minimum pricing of alcohol
28/09/2009
Minimum pricing for alcohol and a ban on irresponsible promotions could prevent thousands of deaths, illnesses and crimes and save Scotland millions of pounds every year, a report has shown.
The findings come from the most detailed and wide-ranging investigation of its kind for Scotland, produced by researchers at the University of Sheffield.
They show that minimum pricing, combined with a ban on quantity discount promotions, could make a sizeable dent in Scotland's alcohol misuse problem.
The Sheffield team looked at a range of minimum prices from 25p to 70p, with and without a ban on promotions. This will help Ministers decide on the level of the minimum price, which has not yet been set.
Key findings from the new report show that, using an example 40p minimum price together with a promotions ban:
- Harmful drinkers would pay an extra £137 per year, compared to just £11 for moderate drinkers
- Harmful drinkers' consumption would fall nearly nine per cent (294 units of alcohol), equivalent to 118 cans of strong lager/cider or 11 bottles of vodka per drinker per year
- Total alcohol consumption across society would fall 5.4 per cent, concentrated among hazardous and harmful drinkers
- Alcohol-related deaths would fall by about 70 in the first year and 365 per year by year 10 of the policy - a reduction of nearly 19 per cent.
- A fall in alcohol-related illnesses of 1,200 in the first year and 3,700 per year by year 10 - a reduction of around eight per cent.
- A fall in general hospital admissions of 1,600 in the first year and 6,300 per year by year 10 - a reduction of nearly 10 per cent.
- A fall in crime of 3,200 offences per year
- Nearly 30,000 fewer workdays lost through absenteeism and 1,250 fewer people unemployed because of alcohol misuse per year
- A financial saving from harm reduction (health, employment, crime, etc) of £60 million in year one and £950 million over 10 years.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "These findings confirm that minimum pricing can be a key weapon in the battle against alcohol misuse.
"That's why the Scottish Government has included it in a package of measures which, taken together, could have a significant impact in reducing Scotland's alcohol misuse burden.
"Minimum pricing will not raise the price of all drinks - it will target products sold at rock-bottom prices which are harming our health and our communities.
"Those who are damaging themselves and others by bingeing on dirt-cheap alcohol will be hit hardest, while moderate drinkers will be almost completely untouched.
"While minimum pricing is not the whole answer, sensible drinking starts with sensible pricing. We have to listen to the evidence if we want to start cutting the cost of alcohol misuse to families, communities and our economy."
Dr Brian Keighley, Chairman of BMA Scotland said:
"We very much welcome today's research findings. It is clear from this evidence that the introduction of a minimum price, as part of a wider strategy, will be a significant step towards improving the health of Scots. Seventy-one lives saved in year one alone would represent a major achievement.
"By reducing consumption, there will be a significant improvement in health for those who drink at harmful levels and the research suggests a significant saving for the NHS - which is increasingly important at a time when budgets are increasingly tight.
"The evidence is clear in favour of minimum pricing, which along with a ban on promotions, can improve the health of individuals so that we could all see an improved quality of life. This is an ambition of which we in Scotland should be proud."
Theresa Fyffe, Director of the Royal College of Nursing Scotland, said:
"If the action outlined in this report is not taken, we will continue to see more and more people dying as a result of excessive consumption of alcohol.
"The evidence presented demonstrates that minimum pricing and a ban on promotions will directly reduce the number of hospital admissions each year.
"This would be welcomed by accident and emergency nurses and other staff across the Scotland, not only because of the improvement in public health, but also because this will mean they will be at less risk of abusive and violent behaviour.
"In combination with a range of other activities, such as nurses and doctors providing support to people aiming to reduce harmful levels of alcohol consumption, we now must take the opportunity to ensure that Scotland's problem with alcohol is tackled for the sake of future generations."
Jack Law, Chief Executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland said:
"Alcohol Focus Scotland welcomes the publication of further evidence that introducing minimum pricing would mean significantly fewer Scots damaging their health, their relationships, their employment prospects, and ultimately losing their lives to alcohol.
"It's not just problem drinkers and their families who would benefit. Everyone in Scotland would gain from this policy as the huge burden of alcohol misuse on the NHS, police and economy would be reduced meaning taxpayers' money can be spent elsewhere.
"Who can argue against a policy that would save around 70 lives in the first year and 365 lives in 10 years time?
"Scotland is paying far too high a price for our alcohol culture. We must move forward with minimum pricing now."
Dr Bruce Ritson, Chairman of Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP), said:
"Doctors have known for some time that cheap alcohol is making a bad situation worse.
"This report confirms what the medical community has believed for some time - that minimum pricing would save lives in Scotland - 70 in the first year alone, with hospitals dealing with 1,600 fewer people. And the price of this for moderate drinkers is likely to be around 21p a week.
"This latest research from Sheffield University makes the case for introducing minimum pricing in Scotland utterly compelling. We hope that politicians will show the same kind of leadership they showed with smoking and put the health of the nation at the heart of efforts to reduce the harm caused by alcohol."
The Scottish Government's Alcohol Framework was published on March 2, 2009 following a consultation period last year. Key proposals include: introducing a minimum price for a unit of alcohol; a ban on off-sales promotions; placing a duty on licensing boards to consider whether raising the off-sales purchase age to 21 is appropriate for their area; and a Social Responsibility Fee for some retailers.
It is intended that the proposals will be included in a Bill to be introduced to the Scottish Parliament later this year.