A new Alcohol Insight exploring the public's perceptions and attitudes to a minimum unit price for alcohol has been published by Alcohol Research UK. The insight, The Cost of Alcohol: The Advocacy for a Minimum Price per Unit in the UK, assessed findings from 28 focus groups on their views towards minimum pricing, its possible outcomes, and how its introduction might be made more acceptable.
The insight's conclusion states:
'Current findings indicate that participants were largely sceptical of the introduction of a minimum price per unit alcohol-pricing policy and expressed doubts regarding its effectiveness. Participants did, however, suggest that the policy could be made more acceptable if introduced as part of a wider strategy to curb alcohol consumption. Present findings suggest that participants’ objections to a minimum price per unit were the result of three main issues:
- a misunderstanding of the minimum price per unit policy itself;
- the failure to recognise the significance of small incremental reductions in alcohol consumption; and
- a preoccupation with the effects of a minimum price on heavy and dependent drinkers.
Policymakers looking to introduce a minimum price policy should focus on dispelling the misconceptions regarding an alcohol-pricing policy and on highlighting the key features of the policy to counter the misunderstandings expressed by participants in the present research.'
A YouGov survey earlier this year indicated British opinion is split over whether the Government should introduce minimum pricing; 47% were reportedly in favour with 44% against. Full survey results here.
Minimum pricing refers to legislation that would set a minimum price per unit of alcohol, potentially affecting 'loss-leading' or 'high alcohol low cost' drinks sold through off-licensed premises including supermarkets. The likely impact of minimum pricing has been modeled by the University of Sheffield and has been widely called for by health groups, but strongly opposed by sections of the drinks and retail industries.
Minimum pricing has been commonly misinterpreted in England following the introduction of a 'below cost ban' defined as duty + VAT, which is thought to have had no impact on prices. Scotland are however seeking a minimum unit price and have set out information here.
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