Higher alcohol prices mean less damage to health

Luc Williams

Can a minimum price on alcohol reduce drinking?

The authors of a study recently published in the journal decided to answer this question. “Economic Inquiry”. Scientists looked at the effects of introducing a minimum unit price for alcohol (minimum unit pricing – MUP) in Wales and Scotland on alcohol consumption during the Covid-19 pandemic. These countries are among the first to introduce such a system.

As the researchers pointed out, prices increased on average by 15% because of this, while the amount of alcohol purchased fell by 20%. As noted by Professor Farasat Bokhari from Loughborough University, the policy based on MUP is very effective and precise in reducing the demand for alcohol, leading to a decrease in the amount of alcohol purchased and the amount of money spent on it. The effect he described was maintained throughout the entire six months of observation.

Decrease in deaths caused by alcohol consumption

In turn, experts from the University of Glasgow checked the number of alcohol-related deaths in Scotland. It turned out that during the two years and eight months they considered, the number of deaths caused by alcohol consumption fell by 13 percent. As the researchers calculated, this corresponds to 150 deaths per year. “Scotland has the highest level of mortality due to alcohol consumption in the whole of Great Britain. Residents of the least socially and economically developed areas suffer particularly from this. In these areas, people die from alcohol more than five times more often than in areas with better conditions. The policy of minimum unit price aims to address these inequalities by reducing alcohol consumption and the health damage it causes. This mainly concerns alcoholics who buy the cheapest alcohol,” emphasized Dr. Grant Wyper, author of the publication, which appeared in the prestigious magazine “The Lancet”.

“Our results show that such a policy has a positive impact on public health – its introduction is associated with fewer alcohol-related deaths in men and in people living in the 40% most deprived areas of Scotland, who die disproportionately from alcohol-related harm,” he stressed.

Experts reported that the drop in mortality was mainly due to a reduction in the effects of long-term, frequent drinking – for example, the number of deaths caused by liver damage fell by less than 12 percent and by 23 percent – ​​alcohol dependence syndrome. However, in the short term, researchers even noticed a certain increase in mortality and the number of hospitalizations caused by short-term effects, e.g. alcohol poisoning. This result, as they explained, is strongly burdened with the possibility of statistical errors. However, it could result, for example, from buying alcohol instead of food – the researchers said. In their opinion, this means that, in addition to introducing price restrictions, it is crucial to provide people with appropriate assistance. Overall, however, the project turned out to be a success.

“The work of Wyper et al. suggests that the strategy has reduced inequalities in alcohol-related harm by reducing the severity of harm among people from lower socioeconomic groups. Given the disproportionate incidence of harm in these groups, this policy is well-targeted. However, it is also important that, in parallel with such research and policy changes, strategies that address the inequalities that underlie so many health problems are considered, studied and promoted,” said Dr. Sarah Callinan and Dr. Amy Pennay of La Trobe University in Australia, who were not involved in the study, in a commentary accompanying the publication.

Such strategies can work well in various parts of Europe, according to a report published two years ago by the World Health Organization. The WHO European Region has the highest levels of alcohol consumption and related harm in the world, the authors of a report on the impact of introducing pricing and tax methods that limit alcohol consumption reminded us.

“Alcohol taxation and price-based approaches have great potential to reduce alcohol consumption and related harm in the WHO European Region. In recent years, the scientific evidence on the effectiveness of the various options available has grown rapidly,” the authors of the study said. MUP may be of particular value, they stressed. However, this method should rather be part of a broader strategy.

“The evidence shows that minimum pricing policies should be used in a complementary manner, together with other pricing methods, primarily taxation. Furthermore, they should be based on the different drinking patterns and harm profiles in different countries, their needs and capacities,” the report reads.

About LUC WILLIAMS

Luc's expertise lies in assisting students from a myriad of disciplines to refine and enhance their thesis work with clarity and impact. His methodical approach and the knack for simplifying complex information make him an invaluable ally for any thesis writer.