Alcohol Policy UK

Minimum pricing decision in Scotland to follow new research

Scotland on Sunday "understands that the SNP is poised to back a 40p per unit rate for all alcoholic drinks when it announces its full plans later this year. The government believes that it will stop shops from selling loss-leading cheap drink, while leaving more expensive brands untouched. A final decision on the exact rate will be made after a study by Sheffield University into the likely impact.

But officials believe the 40p rate strikes the right balance, hitting the sale of cheap drink while not being too punitive for consumers. Nonetheless, the SNP faces a struggle to get its plans through parliament, with neither the Tories, the Liberals or Labour yet having committed to the principle of minimum pricing. The 40p rate may also fail to satisfy medics, many of whom believe only a 50p per unit rate will adequately cut drinking. A report in the medical journal the Lancet found last week that such a rate would cut heavy drinkers' intake by 10%".  Full story here.

The University of Sheffield last year carried out a review of alcohol pricing and promotion for the Department of Health.  Reports here (under Research).  The government says it is 'evaluating the findings' but seems reluctant to come to the same conclusions as the SNP.

Alcohol attributable morbidity and mortality: new data for Scotland

A study by ISD Scotland has calculated alcohol population attributable fractions for Scotland, using the best possible estimates based on the current evidence available in the epidemiological literature and specific estimates of population drinking in Scotland. These were applied to mortality and morbidity data to estimate more fully the burden of alcohol attributable harm in Scotland. The report Alcohol attributable mortality and morbidity: alcohol population attributable fractions for Scotland includes these main findings:

• 1 in 20 (2,882) deaths in Scotland in 2003 were estimated to be attributable to alcohol, twice as many as previously reported
• Men were more likely to die an alcohol attributable death - 6.8% of all male deaths were estimated to be alcohol attributable compared to 3.3% for women
• Deaths were proportionately higher in younger age groups with 1 in 4 of men and 1 in 5 of women aged 35-44 dying an alcohol attributable death
• Over a thousand deaths were in people under the age of 55 (1080). Younger people were more likely to die from an acute consequence (such as injury) whereas older people were more likely to die from a chronic condition. However, 1 in 10 of all deaths in those aged 35-44 were due to alcoholic liver disease.
• Alcohol problems also cause a considerable burden to the health care system, accounting for over 1 in 20 of all patient-specific (hospital) discharges in 2003.  This is 50% higher than routine statistics which are based on wholly attributable conditions
• Men were more likely to have an alcohol attributable hospital discharge than women, 1 in 10 of all male discharges in Scotland were estimated to be alcohol attributable compared to 1 in 20 for women

Ritson: face the facts on minimum pricing

Dr Bruce Ritson, former consultant psychiatrist at Rotal Edinburgh Hospital and now chair of SHAAP (Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems) has set out a clear case for minumum pricing of alcohol in a letter to The Scotsman, here:

Sir Ian Good, chairman of Famous Grouse maker Edrington, is concerned that the introduction of a minimum price on alcohol will have deleterious effects on Scottish industry. I fully appreciate his commitment to his shareholders and the maintenance of the excellent marketing position of one of Scotland's most profitable businesses and its contribution to exports.

However, facts must be faced. We recently learned that one in four of all men aged 35 to 44 in Scotland dies of an alcohol attributable condition; the number of people diagnosed with alcoholic liver disease has risen by 52 per cent since 1998; A&E departments in Scotland deal with more than 70 alcohol-related assaults a day; and alcohol-related problems are estimated to cost Scotland more than £2 billion a year. The chief constable of Strathclyde Police recently stated: "Cheap drink is fuelling crime in Scotland."

This burden of disease and social problems is closely related to the amount of alcohol a population consumes. Abundant evidence shows that the most effective and cost-effective way of reducing consumption and harm is increasing the price of alcohol relative to disposable income. In the past, major retailers have been able to absorb tax increases on alcohol by below-cost selling. However, the most effective measure is the one so roundly opposed by Sir Ian – a minimum pricing policy.

We cannot go on drinking more and more without incurring an ever-increasing health and social cost burden. Unpalatable as it may seem, a minimum pricing policy is likely to be far more effective than any amount of education, exhortation or attempts to change the national moral climate.

Smoking ban shows reduction in alcohol consumption in Scotland

A study by the American Yale University on the impact of smoking bans in the US and Scotland has found they reduced alcohol consumption amongst smokers. In Scotland, 525 smokers were studied before and after the ban and compared with a control group south of the border. It found that moderate drinking smokers in Scotland reduced their alcohol consumption by four drinks a week whilst heavy drinking smokers drank on average six fewer drinks in the pub per week. Sherry McKee, of Yale University, said:

"That is a benefit for public health in that it reduces the alcohol consumption of a category of people who are at most risk from disease. This is the first time it has been demonstrated that smoking bans have an affect on alcohol consumption."

Meanwhile in England and Wales, whilst the smoking ban has increased the number of people quitting smoking, research shows it has further reduced business for the declining on-trade. Questions are therefore being raised about whether the ban has contributed to increased home consumption as off-sales rise and supermarkets continue to use alcohol as a significant loss-leader. Other reports indicate that the smoking ban has caused crime and disorder problems outside premises.

For more on the Yale University research see Scotland on Sunday report.

Health professionals add more support for pricing controls on alcohol

The Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Nursing Survey on Alcohol Treatment Services published last week asked gastroenterologists, hepatologists, acute physicians and nurses for their expert opinion on Government policy initiatives and national strategies to tackle alcohol related harm, the provision of service for people with alcohol related health problems and the scale of alcohol related health harms in their particular clinical environment. 

Key findings (it is not clear how many people responded):

• 73% felt action on low priced alcohol was needed to tackle alcohol related problems
• 71% believed that greater investment in treatment services was needed
• 88% felt that the national strategies for reducing harm were not effective

The editorial in this week's Lancet supports minimum pricing, as proposed by Chief Medical Officer Liam Donaldson (pictured), suggesting that opposition is political and not based on understanding of the evidence:

As yet, no European country has a minimum price-per-unit policy, although the Scottish Government is considering it. If introduced in the UK, the scheme would signal good news for the population's health and for the public purse, and money saved by the scheme could be put into health services. Ignoring the evidence on  price increases may prove a popular political decision for Brown, but it will be a costly one for public health.

Previous Lancet articles on alcohol here.

London off-licences may restrict alcohol sales to over 21

The Evening Standard has reported that London Mayor Boris Johnson is backing a scheme that will see off-licences voluntarily raising the age to 21 for purchasing alcohol. A pilot is to take place in Croydon and other Tory councils have reportedly come out in support, including Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, Westminster and Ealing.

A pilot in Scotland last year banned sales to under 21s in West Lothian and was reported to reduce alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour significantly . This year the Scottish National Party released a national framework for action which includes plans to raise the legal purchase age to 21 across the country.

Minimum alcohol pricing to be recommended for England

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Sir Liam Donaldson, is shortly to publish his annual report, which this year will advise that England adopts minimum pricing measures to address the health impact of alcohol misuse. It is expected that the CMO report will call for a 50 pence per unit minimum price, which according to research would reduce consumption of alcohol and alcohol-related health harm, currently costing the NHS around £2.7 billion per year.

The government last year commissioned a review from the University of Sheffield into the effect of price on consumption. The findings showed that, based on a number of international studies, price was an effective lever on consumption and alcohol-related harm.  Despite the findings, the government did not opt for pricing controls when it announced a mandatory code for licensed premises. The code - the terms of which are yet to be set - will ban irresponsible promotions such as happy hours and 'buy one get one free', though will not stop supermarkets using alcohol as a 'loss leader'.

The CMO's call comes shortly after Scotland announced that it would introduce a minimum price of 40 pence per unit alongside a range of other measures including raising the age of off-licences sales to 21 in some areas. The BBC announced the news, reporting that the measures would mean a bottle of wine could not be sold for less than £4.50.

Scotland moves closer to introducing minimum pricing

The Scottish government today announced bold plans to take further action to act on the availability and price of alcohol by introducing minimum retail pricing measures. The plans were announced today as the Scottish National Party published a series of documents as A Framework for Action.

The introduction of a minimum price is aimed at targeting practices believed to be contributing to mounting alcohol-related health and social harms, such as supermarkets using alcohol as a 'loss-leader'. The measures are being brought in based on findings that show controlling price is an effective way to reduce alcohol consumption and harm. In addition, the proposals and next steps set out a range of further actions including:

• The end of promotions such as 'buy one get one free'
• Legislation to require licensed premises to make smaller measures available of 125ml of wine and 25ml measures of spirits
• Raising the minimum legal purchase age for off-sales purchases to 21
• Introducing powers to place fees on licensed premises in order to contribute to the adverse consequences of alcohol consumption
• Action to restrict further the use of marketing materials within licensed premises
• Powers to introduce alcohol only checkouts in off-sales premises

In addition, a range of further measures was announced to continue to improve alcohol health promotion, treatment and support.  Funding of an additional £85m over the next three years was announced to support alcohol treatment and prevention, especially focusing on brief interventions, an effective method of reducing hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption (see commissioners' guidance here).

An article in today's Guardian has already prompted active debate over the news,  highlighting that hospital admissions from alcohol-related diseases and violence have now exceeded heart disease for the first time.  it said one study suggested alcohol misuse, binging and violence cost the Scottish economy £2.25bn a year.  Scottish officials admitted that it would be a challenge to ensure the measures were "effective, ­proportionate and legally robust" and would need time to find the right price and policy.

In England, the government last year announced measures to tackle irresponsible promotions through a mandatory licensing code, but opted out of addressing loss-leading despite consultation support. The terms of the mandatory code are yet to be set, though health lobbyists such as the Alcohol Health Alliance UK are still calling for pricing controls as the 'most effective way to reduce alcohol harm'.

Licensing news and updates: Scottish Industry agreement, Guinness glass has units, Pubwatch legality issue, Trading Standards reporting initiative

Scottish Government agrees new responsible sponsorship agreement

The Scottish Government and the Alcohol Industry Partnership have drawn up a new agreement which means sports teams, celebrities or events with appeal to under 18s will not be sponsored through alcohol branding. The deal also means responsible drinking messages will also appear at points of sale for alcohol. For more see a BBC report here. The move comes after talk of tough action on the industry by the Scottish government, including an rumoured move at introducing minimum pricing and moves to make a minimum age of 21 for purchasing alcohol from off-licenses. 

Last year year the British government set out objectives for a new mandatory code that would seek to increase the responsible retailing of alcohol.

New Guinness glass shows units

Drinks giant Diageo meanwhile takes a further step in improving unit awareness; a new Guinness glass that displays a pint's unit content of 2.3. See here for more.

Pubwatch ban powers to be challenged

The legality of powers to ban people from premises through the Pubwatch scheme is to be challenged. A forthcoming case is based on the issue as to whether the action to decide if a ban is appropriate holds a sufficient review process, based on a case in Haverhill. See CRP news story here. However Drinking Banning Orders take effect this year following the introduction of the 2006 Violent Crime Reduction Act.

Trading Standards acts to encourage under-age sales reporting

South Derbyshire's Trading Standards Team have taken a proactive approach to encouraging residents to report suspected under-age sales following only one such report. The lack of reporting came despite local shops selling to under 18s in nearly a quarter of cases. In response, the Violence, Alcohol Harm and Licensing (VAL) group have produced a form available from the council website for residents to use to report a suspected under-age sale. The form can be directly downloaded as a PDF here . See Burton news story for more.

Diageo hire Lewis Hamilton to help fight Scottish Government's crackdown on alcohol-related harm

Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has emerged as a 'powerful new weapon in the campaign against the Scottish Government's crackdown on alcohol', says Scotland on Sunday.  In a move calculated to pile pressure on ministers, drinks firm Diageo has hired Hamilton to promote its message of encouraging responsible alcohol use rather than the "Draconian" and "blanket" approach of the Government.

The driver told the paper it was better to make people aware of the dangers of alcohol as "no one likes being told what to do".  Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has declared war on Scotland's booze culture, proposing to raise the minimum age for buying drink in off-licences from 18 to 21, introduce alcohol-only checkouts in supermarkets, set minimum prices and end two-for-one deals.

There are also plans to make pubs and clubs pay a 'social responsibility fee' for the policing of antisocial behaviour in hotspot areas. The SNP is expected shortly to unveil its final proposals for tackling problem drinking, which is estimated to cost Scotland £2.25bn a year. But the drinks industry and supermarkets are vigorously opposed to many of the proposals and Diageo, maker of Johnnie Walker and owner of brands such as Guinness and Smirnoff, has revealed that 24-year-old Hamilton had joined its campaign.