Alcohol Policy UK

News & updates April 2015: booze buses, alcohol with marijuana, is alcohol a 'gateway' drug?, memory, movies and pop music

Selected media stories since the March roundup

Mobile “booze buses” to treat drunken revellers could soon become a common sight in towns and cities across England, after a pilot project led to dramatic decreases in A&E admissions and saved the NHS hundreds of thousands of pounds, reported the Independent.

Personnel Today discussed drug and alcohol testing in the workplace. It suggests a sensible way forward for employers is to remove the stigma surrounding drug and alcohol abuse and get to the root of the problem, taking a health-led, rather than disciplinary-led, approach.

Binge drinking is costing UK taxpayers £4.9bn a year as we analysed here or see BBC report and the Telegraph recently asked "Do you know how much alcohol you are drinking?" explaining units and NHS risk levels to readers.

Crime, drink-drug driving & violence

Thermal cameras could be used to catch drink drivers, using an algorithm that spots changes in the face caused by an 'alcohol flush' said the Daily Mail.

People who smoke cannabis while consuming alcohol are twice as likely to drink-drive, says new research reported in the Daily Mail.

People needing medical treatment due to violence dropped by nearly 23,000 between 2013 and 2014, according to Cardiff University researchers as previously reported here or see Wales Online.

Women

272 children left disabled by foetal alcohol syndrome were hospitalised in England over the past 12 months, according to data from the official Health and Social Care Information Centre reported the Daily Mail and Mirror, but the actual number affected by their mother's drinking could be far greater.

A child born with foetal alcohol syndrome has been refused permission to take her case for criminal injuries compensation to the UK Supreme Court said the BBC.

Alcohol policy

Health bosses in Scotland are considering raising the legal age for buying alcohol to 21 to tackle binge drinking, reported the Daily Mail.

Alcohol Concern Cymru has called for tailored health warnings to be included on drinks advertisements, publishing research showing more than half of adverts and advertorials in supermarket magazines do not contain a specific ‘drink responsibly’ message. Wales Online.

More than 100 people have died because of a legal challenge to minimum alcohol pricing by Scotland’s whisky industry, health secretary Shona Robinson has claimed. The Courier 

Treatment 

The NHS could save £27m a year by changing the way it deals with alcoholic patients, reported the BBC after a week at Manchester's Chapman Barker detox unit.

Two key drugs recommended in international guidelines and used to treat alcoholic hepatitis are failing to increase patients' survival and leave death rates among patients "alarmingly high", reported the Mail Online. 

Young people

Marijuana isn’t a gateway drug – alcohol is, said Metro, reporting on research by Treatment4Addiction.

Binge drinking as a teenager causes long-lasting changes to the regions of the brain that control learning and memory, said the Daily Mail, reporting on new research from Duke University.

In a study of 15-year-olds in the UK, those who had been most exposed to alcohol use in films were also most likely to have tried alcohol, and about twice as likely as the least exposed to have been binge drinking, reported the Huffington Post.

Psychologists have documented a striking increase in references to alcohol and heavy drinking in the lyrics of UK chart music. They warn this could mean that attempts to control the direct advertising of alcohol to young people will be in vain, as pop music is effectively spreading a positive message on the drinks companies' behalf.

24 per cent of young professionals in the UK would consider themselves to have a “drinking problem” according to a recent survey reported the Independent.

A new event, Shaken Not Slurred — a pop-up night on the first Thursday of the month has been launched for people to enjoy a drug and alcohol free night out in Bolton without alcohol or drugs. Bolton News

Trade news

Local councils are the real driving force between prohibitionist alcohol policies - and the trade should devote more attention to them, according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, reported Harpers.

This Is Money said local councils could be made to pay thousands of pounds in compensation to retailers who say they were pressured into stopping selling strong lagers and ciders, following a legal ruling in Newcastle.

Drinks industry leaders will resist plans for compulsory labeling of calories on alcohol products, by arguing that information would be better used online or on smartphone apps rather than on bottles and cans, said the Grocer.

Starbucks has opened a cafe at Edinburgh Airport which is only its second in the UK to offer dinner and alcohol, reported the Scotsman.

Meanwhile the Grocer says UK consumers have almost no interest in using lower-strength drinks to cut down on alcohol consumption, according to a major new study.

the Telegraph recently asked "Do you know how much alcohol you are drinking?" explaining units and NHS risk levels to readers.

News & updates March 2015: licensing reform, investment in treatment (Wales), weak booze and small bottles

Selected media stories since the February roundup:

Policy 

Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, has urged reform of the licensing system, suggesting the number of bars and pubs in the country be reduced in order to stem the rising tide of alcohol related violence, reported the Telegraph.

Wales: More than £50m will be invested in programmes to tackle drug and alcohol misuse over the next year, announced Deputy Health Minister Vaughan Gething, says Wales Online. Alcohol misuse is still costing the Welsh NHS more than £109m a year, the Gething said, despite a fall in alcohol-related deaths (BBC).

 

Research

A single alcoholic drink could make people seem more attractive because it causes facial muscles to relax, pupils to dilate and cheeks to flush, according to research reported in the Telegraph.

Scientists have pinpointed a protein in the brain which could be used to suppress the desire to keep drinking alcohol, and could even lead to a cure for alcoholism reported the Telegraph.

Three alcoholic drinks a day could lead to liver cancer – although drinking more coffee could prevent the disease, according to the most comprehensive review to date, reported the Independent.

 

Alcohol by volume

Beer drinkers are turning their back on strong lager with 2 billion fewer units of alcohol consumed in the last two years, reported the Telegraph.  

Does weak wine taste better, asked the Daily Mail, reporting that low alcohol bottles of red stimulate our senses more.  Good news for New Zealand it seems, where the cooler climate is giving its winemakers an edge as they seek to exploit growing global demand for lighter, premium wines, as rising temperatures push up the alcohol content of wines from rivals such as Australia and the United States, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, said the Guardian, sales of mini bottles of wine containing single servings have soared as health-conscious consumers seek to rein in the amount of alcohol they drink, supermarkets are reporting.

 

Trade news

Pub groups gave three cheers to George Osborne after the Chancellor cut another penny from the price of a pint for the third year in a row in the Budget, reported the Telegraph. Scotch whisky producers were pleased too (BBC).

Drinks giant Diageo is to become the first alcohol company to start providing “per typical serve” information on alcohol content and nutrition - including calories - on its products, reported the Grocer.

Publicans with personal licences expiring on or after 1 April 2015 will not need to apply for renewal, the Home Office has confirmed. Morning Advertiser

The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill has been passed by Parliament, without further amendment, so that the bill, which includes the statutory pubs code and controversial market rent only clause, will now be put forward for Royal Assent before the dissolution of Parliament ahead of the General Election, reported the Morning Advertiser. Update here.

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association has urged the Government to do more to support pubs north of the border, following a survey that reveals two thirds of outlets have suffered a decline in like-for-like sales of up to 10% following the introduction of tougher drink driving limits, reported the Morning Advertiser.

News & updates December 2014: pub closures; 'arrest drunks to save A&Es'; drinking and the body; trade news & more

Selected media reports since the November roundup:

Policy in the news

A report from 'free-market think-tank' the Institute of Economic Affairs blamed pub closures since the recession on the smoking ban, increases in alcohol duty and declining real wages. It says these directly contributed to more than half of the total 6,000 pub closures since 2006, but plays down the role of cheap off-trade sales. See the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph reports.

Tory peer Lord Hodgson preferred to blame the closure of pubs on an increase in the size of the country's Muslim community, along with the 'inexorable rise of regulation' and the availability of low price alcohol in supermarkets, reported the Daily Mail.

Calls to arrest and fine drunks to reduce pressure on A&Es has been made by the president of the College of Emergency Medicine, Dr Cliff Mann. He claimed it would act as a deterrent and change the idea it was 'normal' to get too drunk - the Guardian (or see a previous RCN debate on the subject).

The Guardian reported new research findings that industry lobbyists are hijacking government alcohol policy reform discussions and hampering efforts in Australia and the UK to curb drinking rates.

Doctors demanded a ban on alcohol firms sponsoring sports clubs and events because they claim that the “outrageous” practice is fuelling underage drinking by children, reported the Guardian. as Wales Online. reported Alcohol Concern Cymru's calls for statutory regulation of the drinks industry.

A National Audit Office (NAO) report has said a £2.7bn fund to improve public health in England has warned over the need to better target health money, and often spend on alcohol is not reflecting local need. BBC News.

The Court of Appeal has ruled that a child born with foetal alcohol syndrome is not legally entitled to compensation after her mother drank excessively while pregnant, reported BBC News.

Drinking and drinkers

BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat ran a feature on how the body metabolises alcohol, which also explained how different factors such as age and gender impact on level of intoxication.

'Most people who die from liver disease AREN'T alcoholics - they just drink nearly every day': Experts warn we need a 3-day break each week so the body can recover, proclaimed the Daily Mail.

New figures have indicated the extent of the danger posed by pedestrians under the influence of alcohol, with the Glasgow area third for pedestrian drunkenness, just behind Greater London and Kent, reported BBC News.

New research reported in the Daily Mail shows tee-totallers have come up with various ways of getting out of drinking at work social events without arousing suspicion from their colleagues.

Scientists claim to have discovered a drug that reduces the harmful effects of binge drinking, reported the Daily Mail of 'wonder drug' ethane-β-sultam, which reduces the loss of brain cells and the inflammation that results from bouts of heavy drinking. However, NHS Choices said the Mail had exaggerated the research findings.

A decline in drinking among middle-aged people over the past decade could be caused by isolation as well as a growing awareness of the dangers of alcohol, research suggested. Yahoo News.

About a third of 15-year-olds in the UK have blacked out due to alcohol, a new survey indicates - and the rate rises to nearly three-quarters by the time they reach 19, reported Reuters.

Researchers believe early man developed a gene mutation that meant they could metabolise fermenting fruit lying on the ground, prompting the Daily Mail to suggest we have been drinking alcohol for 10 million years.

Trade news

Just 10 people were prosecuted in England and Wales in 2013 for selling alcohol to a drunk person, reported the Morning Advertiser, a fall from 18 the previous year. See our recent post on this issue.

UK beer sales have bounced back after five consecutive years of decline, according to the latest research from Mintel. Big Hospitality

A powers of entry code, stipulating that licensing authorities will be expected to give at least 48 hours’ notice before visiting a pub, will come into force in April, reported the Morning Advertiser.

Tameside council has rejected a proposed late-night levy due to the current economic climate, whilst Liverpool council is about to launch a consultation on the levy for the city.

The Gambling Commission is looking to appeal the First-Tier Tribunal’s decision to allow Greene King a bingo licence, in order to stop commercial gambling “spreading to pubs”, said the Morning Advertiser.

See the Morning Advertiser's ten most popular stories of 2014.

Other news

Alcohol consumption in Scotland has fallen by the equivalent of 38 million pints of beer a year since 2009, according to an NHS Health Scotland report, which said much of this could be attributed to the economy crashing and the scrapping of multi-buy deals. BBC News.

The number of towns and cities which are officially “saturated” with alcohol has grown by a third in just two years reported the Telegraph.

One in five drivers admits to getting behind the wheel the morning after a heavy night’s drinking despite the risk of still being over the drink-drive limit, according to AA research reported by Yahoo.

The Mirror reviewed 5 smartphone apps that can 'keep you on a relatively straight and narrow path and help you avoid becoming the ultimate Yule fool'.

Wales and Northern Ireland plan for minimum pricing as Scotland's MUP delay approaches third year

The Governments of Wales and Northern Ireland have both recently set out their intentions to introduce minimum pricing, following further research by the University of Sheffield.

The Welsh Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford said they would "continue to develop our proposals with a view to introducing legislation" following publication of the Sheffield Alcohol Policy Model's Welsh findings. The report says that a 50 pence minimum unit price (MUP) could reduce Welsh alcohol-related hospital admissions by more than 1,400 and save 53 lives each year.

The announcement in Wales earlier this month came shortly after the Northern Ireland Executive also said it would proceed with minimum pricing. For Northern Ireland, a 50 pence MUP would be expected to reduce alcohol related deaths by 63 per year and save healthcare services £1.8 million within the first year.

Previously this year the Sheffield Alcohol Research Group published work which is said shows MUP is a targeted measure and would not 'punish responsible drinkers', a common charge fired by opponents. Further work by Sheffield also suggested supermarkets subsidise tax increases on the cheapest drinks to keep customers attracted in store.

MUP: not so fast... 

Of course Governments announcing MUP plans and actually implementing it are not quite the same - Scotland are in the midst of a EU legal battle spearheaded by sections of the alcohol industry. Scotland first passed legislation to implement MUP in 2012, but cannot be sure it will even come into force in 2015.

SHAAP (Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems) are campaigning for people to sign in support for Scotland's MUP plans following a briefing on Alcohol Policy in Scotland: Proceedings from Brussles event [pdf].

In England, plans announced in 2012 for a minimum pricing were shelved were followed by accusations of industry lobbying. As an alternative, a 'below cost ban' has since been implemented, but its effect has been suggested to be minimal, if any. However Public Health England have committed to "continue to set out the evidence base for the introduction of a minimum unit price for alcohol".

News & updates October 2014: Scotland's drink drive limit; pre-paid benefits cards; sperm quality & health 'benefits'; sex and driving offences by young people; industry news & more

Selected media reports since the September roundup:

Alcohol policy & research

The Scottish Government has announced plans to reduce the country's drink-drive limit in time for Christmas. Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has taken steps which, if approved by the Scottish Parliament, would mean a new limit being introduced on 5 December. Under the plans, Scotland's blood alcohol limit would be cut from 80mg to 50mg in every 100ml of blood. BBC News

The British Government is to introduce pre-paid benefit cards to stop claimants spending their money on alcohol, drugs or gambling habits. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said it would help those "on the margins break the cycle of poverty". BBC News

Drinking just five units of alcohol every week could reduce the quality of a man’s sperm, new research suggests. And the more alcohol consumed, the weaker the quality reports The Guardian

Meanwhile, drinking alcohol for health reasons would be "silly", says this Telegraph report which attempts to unpick the various myths and messages around supposed health impacts of moderate consumption. 

Couples are drinking more at home as staying in with a glass of wine as television replaces outings to the pub. The amount households spend on alcohol at supermarkets and off-licences has risen to almost £500 a year on average, according to a study by the Grocer magazine - The Telegraph.

The average Briton spends almost £50,000 on alcohol during their lifetime, says Macmillan Cancer Support. The Independent

Researchers have argued for cap on caffeine levels, citing health risks, particularly when the drinks are consumed with alcohol. The Guardian.

Dangerous levels of alcohol consumption are “the norm” in the armed forces, with urgent action needed. Links with PTSD and domestic violence need better understanding and more attention to address the issue - the Independent.

Young people and alcohol

Children as young as 11 have been caught drink driving in the UK, with an average of 1,000 under-18s being convicted of the offence in the last six years. Over 6,500 under 18s have been caught driving while drunk by police, with more than a quarter of offenders driving under the age of 16, with the added danger of being completely uninsured. The Independent.

Neknominate death was ruled 'accidental' after a 20 year old collapsed and died after drinking a 30 unit mix of wine, vodka, beer and whisky earlier this year. Pathology tests found he had drunk a "very high" amount of alcohol which was "within the range to induce a coma". BBC.

Humberside Police figures show the number of sex attacks where the offender and victim are both under 18 are increasing at a rapid rate. Assistant Chief Constable Alan Leaver has said more must be done to tackle the issue. He said: "There is one common factor to be found in both suspects and victim and that is alcohol consumption". Hull Daily Mail

Young people in Wales drink more alcohol each week than in any other part of the UK, a new report has found. According to the Public Health Wales Observatory, 17% of boys and 14% of girls between 11 and 16 drink alcohol at least once a week – 2% higher than in England and Scotland and twice the amount of youngsters in the Republic of Ireland. Wales Online

Alcohol industry news

Diageo has been criticised by the Advertising Standards Agency for an advert featuring an animated parrot, which was judged to have a strong appeal to children. Morning Advertiser

The Publican’s Morning Advertiser has launched a campaign, Make Some Noise, to protect established pubs and bars that are threatened with closure due to noise complaints.  In an early success, a Manchester music venue has won a licence review after claiming the council made “severe errors” in failing to install soundproofing in a neighbouring residential flat. Morning Advertiser

A Big Hospitality infographic (right) shows the claimed positive impact that two consecutive beer duty cuts have had on sales, employment and investment in the pub industry, using data from the British Beer and Pub Association's 'Cheers 2014' report.

The first scientific study of the impact of pubs on rural communities has proved they are “a vital service the countryside cannot afford to lose”, saying they are worth up to £120k to the community. Morning Advertiser

Almost 19,000 different cask ales are now brewed in Britain as a surge in demand for the beers has led to three new breweries opening every week, according to a new report. The Independent

News & updates Sept 2014: liver disease maps and drink data, alcohol and young people, 'hugger mugger' warnings, breathalysing on the door & more

Selected media stories since the August roundup:

Alcohol data

The Huffington Post picked up on regional information about alcohol-related liver disease published by the Health & Social Care Information Centre. It highlights areas of the North West and North East of England have the highest rate of emergency hospital admissions for alcohol-related liver disease in the country. 

Global alcohol consumption data published by WHO has been used to create an interactive online map showing per capita consumption of wine, beer and spirits by country. 

The Spirits Business reported on new National Diet and Nutrition Survey data on Scots drinking compared to the rest of the UK. Meanwhile, industry figures criticised recent council reports that include “flawed” data that amount to “meaningless propaganda”, according to the Morning Advertiser.

Alcohol and young people

The Morning Advertiser reported that almost 90% of 18-24 year olds agree that education on the effects of alcohol should be integrated into the National Curriculum. Mentor UK's 'ADEPIS' has produced a number of resources for schools, including a toolkit for helping schools review their alcohol and drug policies.

Research reported in the Telegraph suggests students will spend more than £200 on alcohol and getting into bars and clubs during their first week of University. Meanwhile Manchester University claims its new NUS Alcohol Impact scheme has already attracted interest from 'other institutions wishing to get involved' in trying to create a 'social norm of responsible alcohol consumption among students' - our recent analysis of the scheme here.

Meanwhile a Drinkaware poll reported in the Journal, found that nearly a quarter of parents admitted to supplying their own children with up to nine units of alcohol in one sitting. However, parents in Wales are over-estimating the number of young people who drink alcohol, according to Alcohol Education Trust research reported on ITV.com.

300 young people were referred to an alcohol intervention in Durham in Operation Aries - a crackdown on underage drinking over the summer that also saw 200 litres of alcohol confiscated; 80% was purchased by adults, reports the BBC. More here.

Parental drinking habits can affect children before they are born: new research claims that children of mothers who drink as little as four units of alcohol in a day even once while pregnant are at greater risk of developing mental health problems, reports the Guardian.  See more on this from NHS Choices.

Police Alcohol Harm initiatives

In Plymouth, officers have started breathalysing offenders arrested for alcohol related offences. By aiming to ascertain their level of intoxication, police were attempting to identify repeat alcohol related offending, reported the Plymouth Herald. The BBC reports that pub and club goers are to be breathalysed before being allowed into night time venues in Loughborough.

ACPO launched a week-long campaign from 19 September highlighting the realities faced by those dealing with drunkenness and alcohol-related incidents. Police chiefs such as in Worcestershire and Darlington, supported the campaign.

Devon and Cornwall Police kicked the campaign off by tweeting every incident dealt with by officers in the force area overnight on the Friday and Saturday on Twitter to raise awareness of the issue (see @DC_Police #alcoholharm). The last two tweets give a flavour:

Before we say good night, we hope you can see dealing w/ #alcoholharm at weekends has a significant impact on communities & police resources. 

Friday final figures were 43 in custody and 374 incidents between 8pm-3am. Saturday we have 59 in custody and 493 incidents.

Greater Manchester Police tweeted videos of 'hugger mugger' incidents (see video), where drunk people are vulnerable to being robbed during apparently friendly encounters.

Also..

Holidaymaker's insurance claims for accidents are being rejected due to drinking in some cases - but insurers have come under pressure from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) who said it expected a "high standard of proof" that the amount consumed made a policy invalid. See BBC report.

News & updates July 2014: Red wine not good for the heart after all?, 'Sobriety' ankle tags, Nalmafene set for NICE approval, 'Juicetails' & new drinks to the market

Selected media stories since the June roundup

Booze NOT good for the heart...

One drink a day could be enough to increase the risk of heart disease according to new research, contradicting popular claims that moderate consumption has a protective effect, reports the Guardian.

Previous studies found a correlation with moderate drinking and reduced heart disease risk - but this could not be isolated from other influential factors in those groups. However the newly published research, using data from more than 260,000 participants in 56 studies, found those with a gene variant that resulted in lighter drinking had lower heart disease incidence. See Huffington Post and Daily Mail reports.

Other health reports..

The link between alcohol sponsorship and hazardous drinking in UK athletes has been highlighted in new research from the University of Manchester and Monash University in Australia. Alcohol consumption was found to be high in athletes overall. However, 50% of those sponsored by an alcohol-related industry had AUDIT scores that indicated the need for brief counselling and further monitoring of drinking, compared with 39% for non-sponsored athletes, reports Medical News. See the full findings via Alcohol Research UK site who funded the study.

People with a history of alcohol use disorder, which can include those drinking within recommended limits, are twice as likely to have severe memory problems in subsequent years, reports the Telegraph following research by Exeter University.

Mixing energy drinks with alcohol results in intense cravings for more alcohol says a Newsweek report of a study conducted by the Center for Research on Aging, Health and Well-Being at the Australian National University.

Alcohol & the law

Courts will have the power to issue alcohol-monitoring ankle tags under the Alcohol Abstinence and Monitoring scheme, which will be piloted in South London from August, reports the Mirror. The tag measures the amount of alcohol in sweat every half-hour, with the results sent electronically to a monitoring system. Illustation below from the MailOnline and see our previous Alcohol Policy UK report on 'sobriety tags'.

Specialist Family Drug and Alcohol Courts are starting to spread to the regions after being praised by Sir James Munby, the most senior family judge in England and Wales - Belfast Telegraph. Already operating in London (and Gloucester), the latest Court opened in July in Milton Keynes.  See also Community Care's article Embedding family drug and alcohol courts into family justice.

Northern Ireland's laws on the sale of alcohol are to be changed, Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has said. Publicans will be able to apply for an extension until 2am twelve times every year and restrictions on advertising alcohol in supermarkets and off-licences will be introduced, says BBC News 

SNP ministers are to press ahead with legislation to reduce the drink drive limit for Scotland to 50mg per 100ml, instead of the 80mg UK limit, reports the Daily Record.

 

Nalmafene set to get 'NICE' approval

Nalmafene (or 'Selincro) has made the news as draft guidance from NICE suggests its approval for moderately dependent heavy drinkers - see Mail and Independent reports. The drug, made by Danish company Lundbeck, is claimed to help to reduce the craving for alcohol by controlling the reward mechanism in the brain - but only when combined with a psychological intervention. However concerns have been raised that this crucial requirement may be overlooked - see our previous post and comments here. Reuters says Lundbeck believes Selincro has the potential to generate annual sales of $365-457m. 

Industry  & trade news

Chelmsford councillors have voted to approve the controversial Late Night Levy, forcing bars selling alcohol late in the evening to pay towards policing the city centre, reports the Essex Chronicle.

The latest drinks fad is, apparently, "Juicetails" - cold pressed vegetables with alcohol, eg Pea-lini, made from salted pea cordial, spearmint, butterfly absinthe and prosecco. Because "people want to be good while being bad", says the Independent 

Diageo rum brand Captain Morgan has been censured by advertising regulator the ASA for implying that alcohol can overcome boredom and is capable of changing mood, reports Beverage Daily 

Shoppers buying spirits and liqueurs at Sainsbury’s can no longer collect reward points as a result of “complex” new laws - i.e the 'below cost ban', reports the Telegraph

Moray brewery Brewmeister have set the record for the world’s strongest beer for a second time, with their 67.5% brew called ‘Snake Venom’, reports the Scotsman.  

Meanwhile, Spanish brewer Estrella has launched the first non-alcohol beer to be available on draught in the UK, says the Morning Advertiser. Estrella Galicia will be marketed through sponsorship of MotoGP.

Finally..

Released classified documents of a former KGB defector reveal that two of UK’s double agents, who worked also for KGB, were “constantly drunk” at work, reports the Voice of Russia.

Pricing and policy around the UK: Brits love of cheap wine & end of aisle displays as Wales eyes up minimum pricing.. and Scotland waits

British love affair with "cheap" vino?

Some interesting insight into Brit's wine habits was revealed in the press this week, as research showed less than half of Brits will pay more then £6 for a bottle of wine.

Drinks consumer insight specialists Harpers say supermarket price wars are threatending to 'dumb down' British consumer's attitudes to wine. It reveals 80 per cent of all wine sold in the UK sells for less than £6 a bottle, with only 7% willing to pay £10 or more. 

Wine has been the biggest area of UK growth in alcohol sales over the decades of increasing consumption, with the UK still the world's biggest importer of wine. Trends of more regular home drinking since the 1950s, including more women drinking and supermarkets using alcohol as a big draw are likely to be key factors. However with alcohol consumption having dropped since 2004, significant 'growth' in UK any alcohol markets may be unlikely, so alcohol producers have been seeking to drive demand for premium products. 

But should wine drinkers feel any shame by our love of cheap plonk - even if a third of us can't name a single grape type? An anonymous supplier said in the Telegraph "The fact is, it’s hard to make any money in Britain, but it’s a great market if you want to get rid of bin ends or if you’ve got tanks to empty for the next harvest. You chuck it in the UK’s direction because there they’ll suck in cheap wine."

The Daily Mail take says that high tax rates mean once tax and shipping costs are met it leaves little profit. Interestingly though the Goverment's below cost ban, currently delayed, calculates duty + VAT on a 12.5% ABV wine at £2.41. Arguments against minimum pricing included the charge that raising the price would shift significant additional profits to producers and retailers, but presumably retailers choose not to as alcohol promotions are a big draw in the war for market share.

End of ailse displays increase sales by up to 46%

The Brits love of a drink bargain may also be confirmed by recent University of Cambridge research that found end of aisle displays significantly increased sales of displayed products: 46% for spirits, 34% for wine and 23% for beer.

The researchers suggest restricting end of ailse displayes could be an important area for policy outside of price, and in line with 'nudge' approaches initially favoured by the coalition (but not without criticism). In 2011 Alcohol Concern called for supermarkets and off-licenses to confine displays of alcohol to a single area of their premises, claiming the widespread promotion of alcohol helped fuel a harmful drinking culture.

However the research also confirmed the role of price in influencing purchasing: "lower price was also associated with increased sales for all of the products, with the biggest impact on alcohol. For every 1% decrease in the price (per volume), there was approximately a 5% increase in sales volume."

Wales consults on minimum unit pricing

The Welsh Government has proposed to introduce a 50 pence MUP in its Public Health White Paper. The consultation document says: "Given the link between consumption and harm, and the evidence that affordability is one of the drivers of increased consumption, the Welsh Government’s view is that Minimum Unit Pricing for alcohol is a key policy proposal for tackling the health harms associated with alcohol misuse."

Scotland's health groups call for end of industry led opposition of MUP

Health groups from across the UK have signed an open letter urging the  Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) to drop their legal challenge to MUP. The minimum pricing bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament in May 2012 and planned to come into force last year. However it faces ongoing legal challenges despite finding favour from the Scottish Judiciary that MUP was not in breach of EU competition law.

Scotland is now awaiting the outcome of the SWA appeal to the Court of Session, which is then likely to be followed by hearings at UK Supreme Court and the European Court of Justice. Dr Evelyn Gillan, Chief Executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland warned it could be five years before the case concludes and said: "The SWA has mirrored the tactics of the tobacco industry in delaying life saving legislation. They oppose any measure that might affect their sizeable profits, no matter the obvious benefits to people's health".

News & updates Dec 2013: young people's drinking, resources for schools, MUP in Ireland & more

A selection of stories in the media since the September round up:

Young people

Department for Education returns show that local spending on alcohol and drug services for young people has been cut by 22% since 2011 reports Mentor. 

293 children aged 11 or under were admitted to A&E units across the UK in 2012/13 after drinking too much, according to the BBC, up a third from the previous year.  

A new European Commission report Eyes on Ages: A research on alcohol age limit policies in European Member States. Legislation, enforcement and research says all EU Member States have legal age limits for selling alcohol but, the age limit policies vary widely and countries differ on aspects like sanctions, type of enforcement authorities and communication strategies.

NFER has published Talk About Alcohol: an Evaluation of the Alcohol Education Trust’s Intervention in Secondary Schools which found a statistically significant delay in the onset of drinking amongst the young people in the Talk About Alcohol intervention group.

The Welsh Government's Alcohol in Higher Education Toolkit has been officially launched following extensive trials.  The toolkit has been produced to give student welfare services practical advice on addressing alcohol misuse.

Young people tend to view targeted alcohol marketing via social media sites as ''useful and informative'' instead of recognising it as advertising, research reported in The Telegraph finds.

Adfam has published Identifying and supporting children affected by parental substance use: Resource for schools for the Alcohol and Drug Education and Prevention Information Service (ADEPIS).  Aimed primarily at school governors and headteachers, it aims to summarise the key issues for children affected by parental substance use, and how schools can consider supporting them.

Demos, in its report Sobering Up has urged the government to introduce tougher punishments for parents, siblings and friends who buy alcohol for children, reports the BBC. However the report, funded by the Association of Convenience stores, has some questionable recommendations - APUK analysis to come.

A research study, Young adults and the decline of the urban English pub: issues for planning, reported in Science Daily, finds evidence for the traditional pub as a site for restrained and responsible social interaction for young adults.

Other news

The Irish Examiner reports on research which found the societal costs of the consumption of alcohol “far outweigh” the employment and tax benefits, and will inform current plans to introduce minimum unit pricing across southern and Northern Ireland. 

The Northern Ireland Chief Constable Matt Baggott (right) has urged politicians to do more to tackle the misery caused by alcohol, saying said one in five crimes in Northern Ireland are alcohol related, and 61% of street violence involved alcohol, reports the BBC.

The BBC reports that the number of motorists arrested for drink-driving the "morning after" has risen, police figures suggest - see APUK analysis here.  Meanwhile, a new report says Scottish drivers are the worst in the UK for driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances, reports the Herald.

Academics have criticised Newcastle's late night levy for lack of evidence, reports the Journal, whilst the Gazette says Colchester is considering such a levy to address its 'image problem' associated with drunken revellers.

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Alcohol Concern Wales: marketing messages & children; the role of local alcohol services

Recent reports published by Alcohol Concern Wales include:

Making an impression: Recognition of alcohol brands by primary school children

Alcohol Concern was keen to learn whether, and to what extent, the drinks industry’s marketing messages are reaching children, and what the potential implications of this might be. This briefing paper considers the findings of a brand and logo recognition study conducted amongst primary school children across Wales.

On the 6th September in Wales Alcohol Concern Wales will also host a national conference Willing consumers? Alcohol marketing and how to challenge it. Download the conference flyer and full agenda for the day.

Another recent Alcohol Concern Wales report explores the role of alcohol services in tackling alcohol misuse in Wales:

Everyone's problem: The role of local alcohol services in tackling Wales’ unhealthy relationship with alcohol

Unsurprisingly, given the current outlook for public spending, alcohol services in Wales have serious concerns about their own financial future. These concerns are intensified by the ongoing high levels of demand for alcohol treatment. Whilst recognising current public funding constraints, Alcohol Concern argues that the immediate and long term benefits of alcohol services to individuals, society and the public purse justify supporting, developing and investing in them.

A drinking nation? Wales and alcohol was published in 2010, with a follow up report in 2011. Another recent report 'Mixed messages' warned of possible dangers of mixing highly caffeinated drinks with alcohol. Alcohol Concern Wales’s Drink Wise Wales website contains an alcohol and energy drink counter outlining the amount of alcohol, caffeine and sugar in common energy drink cocktails.

See here for other policy reports and factsheets from Alcohol Concern.