Health, homelessness and children’s leaders have today urged the
government to implement minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol in
England.
The calls come as MUP comes into effect in Scotland, where it is
expected to reduce alcohol deaths and levels of alcohol-related
harm, as well as cut crime and reduce costs to the health
service.
Campaigners said that, following the roll out of MUP in Scotland,
it is vital that England does not get left behind in terms of
reducing the harm done by alcohol. Campaigners pointed to
estimates which suggest that, if MUP in England were to be
delayed by 5 years, over a thousand lives could be lost.
MUP works by setting a floor price below which a unit of alcohol
cannot be sold. In Scotland, this floor price will be set at 50p
per unit. This means that a pint of beer containing 2 units will
now have to cost at least £1, and a bottle of wine containing 9
units will have to cost at least £4.50.
The measure is designed to increase the price of the cheapest,
strongest drinks consumed by those experiencing the worst
alcohol-related harms.
In practice, MUP will leave prices in pubs, bars and restaurants
virtually untouched, and raise the price of products like
supermarket own-brand vodka and super-strength lagers, which are
typically consumed by the most vulnerable groups, such as
children and street drinkers.
Moderate drinkers are estimated on average to barely change their
consumption or spending in response to MUP.
In response to the introduction of MUP in Scotland, and
commenting on the need for the measure in England, Professor Sir
Ian Gilmore, chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA), said:
‘We congratulate the Scottish government on the introduction
of minimum unit pricing. The Westminster government should now
follow Scotland’s lead, and introduce MUP in England.
‘Cheap alcohol is wrecking lives and livelihoods in England
as well as Scotland. There are more than 23,000 deaths a year in
England due linked to alcohol, and many of these come from the
poorest and most vulnerable sections of society.
‘Minimum unit pricing will save lives, cut crime and benefit
the public finances. At the same time, pub prices will be left
untouched, and moderate drinkers will barely notice the
difference under MUP.
‘Any delay in implementing MUP in England will only cost
lives and lead to unnecessary alcohol-related harm. We urge the
Westminster government to act now.’
Commenting on the impact MUP is estimated to have on homeless
people, Jeremy Swain, Chief Executive of Thames Reach, a charity
supporting homeless people, said:
‘Cheap, high-strength ciders and super-strength lagers are
responsible for more deaths among homeless people in the UK than
either heroin or crack cocaine.
‘In a recent survey, we found that 10 in 16 deaths among our
hostel residents were directly linked to these drinks. This is
not a one-off finding. In the previous year, the figure was 11
out of 14 deaths.
‘Minimum unit pricing would significantly raise the price of
these damaging products, creating a strong motivation for the
vulnerable, dependent drinkers we support to move to weaker, less
damaging drinks. Without doubt, this change will diminish the
extreme health problems experienced by dependent drinkers in our
projects and, ultimately, save lives.
‘We call on the Westminster government to act now to ensure
minimum unit pricing is implemented in England urgently.’
Commenting on MUP’s impact on children, Sam Royston, Director of
Policy & Research at The Children’s Society, said:
“We know through our research and direct support for children
that parents’ alcohol misuse can tear families apart, is linked
to domestic abuse, and children living in families affected by
mental ill health, or facing homelessness.
“There is clear evidence that minimum unit pricing targeting
the cheapest alcohol reduces consumption and harm. This can
only help to reduce the devastating impact problem drinking by
parents can have on families.
“While minimum unit pricing has the potential to make a real
difference to young lives it must also be combined with other
changes, including more investment in early family help to tackle
alcohol misuse and improvements in education of both children and
adults about the risks.”
ENDS
About the Alcohol Health Alliance UK
The Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA) is a group of over 50
organisations including the Royal College of Physicians, Royal
College of GPs, British Medical Association, Alcohol Concern and
the Institute of Alcohol Studies. The AHA works together to:
- Highlight
the rising levels of alcohol-related health harm
- Propose
evidence-based solutions to reduce this harm
- Influence
decision makers to take positive action to address the damage
caused by alcohol misuse
