MINIMUM PRICING TRIAL CAN SAVE LIVES

For immediate use: Tuesday 21st September 2010
Attn: NEWSDESKS
POLITICAL / HEALTH CORRESPONDENTS




OPPOSITION GIVEN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT LIFE SAVING POLICY INTO ACTION
The SNP today called on opposition parties to support the Scottish Government’s plans to introduce a sunset clause for minimum pricing which would allow the life saving policy to be put into practice in Scotland and reviewed after a six year period .

The proposal will be put before the Scottish Parliament’s Health Committee tomorrow.
Introducing a minimum unit price for alcohol set at 45 p would mean 1200 fewer hospital admissions, a £5.5 million fall in health care costs, 50 fewer deaths and nearly 23,000 fewer days absent from work in the first year, with the benefits increasing over time.
Ahead of the committee meeting SNP MSP and former GP Dr Ian McKee said:
“Opposition parties must put people’s health before party politics.

“Nicola Sturgeon’s offer of a sunset clause gives Parliament the opportunity to see the benefits minimum pricing will bring to Scotland’s communities and to review it properly after a set time. There are no grounds for rejecting that opportunity.

“We should not be afraid to take bold action. Scottish people voted for a Parliament and for MSPs so we would address the problems faced in Scottish lives. A minimum price of 45p would save 50 lives in the first year and lead to 225 fewer deaths each year after 10 years. It would save our health services £83 million in the first 10 years. We cannot afford the human, social or economic cost of our overuse of alcohol any more.

“We understand that despite overwhelming backing for minimum pricing from the BMA, the Chief Medical Officers, Police Forces and the licensed trade association some MSPs continue to oppose this lifesaving step. By backing a sunset clause those MSPs will have the opportunity to see minimum pricing in practice on Scotland’s streets.

“One in 20 deaths in Scotland is related to alcohol. Scotland drinks 25% more than the average in England and we have one of the highest rates of liver disease in Europe. All before we consider the impact on crime rates in our communities.

“Doing nothing or leaving our problems to London is not an acceptable or responsible answer in the days of a Scottish Parliament and Government. We have the powers to address the problem of alcohol in our society and we must do it.

“As a responsible Government and party the SNP is willing to consider any evidence based proposals from the opposition. In response opposition parties must face up to the overwhelming support and evidence for minimum pricing, accept the sunset clause and back the public and professionals who recognise that it is time to call time on our relationship with alcohol.”

ENDS

Notes: Support for minimum pricing

1. Dr Peter Anderson, consultant to World Health organisation, adviser to European Commission, said (Source: Alcohol Summit, 22 June 2009):

“Outside of governments which own retail stores for the sale of alcohol, no jurisdiction has set a minimum price of alcohol. Internationally, Scotland is seen as a
public health leader. You had the courage to introduce smoke free pubs; let us hope you have the same courage to introduce a minimum price for alcohol.”

1. Henry McLeish (Reported by PA, 15 April 2009). “Over-consumption and abuse of alcohol in Scotland is not a minority pastime. That is why the acceptance of minimum pricing is so important….. the evidence on such a move is clear, that minimum pricing will impact disproportionately on hazardous drinkers and have a limited effect on moderate drinkers.”

2. Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems consultation response – “[There is] strong evidence to suggest young drinkers, binge drinkers and harmful drinkers tend to choose cheaper drinks underlining the importance from a public health perspective of raising minimum alcohol prices to reduce consumption and related harm”

3. Speaking on the BBC's Politics Show, Chief Constable House said: (11/10/09)


"We've got to have price control on drink. We've got to drive up the price so that it's not as cheap as it currently is in supermarkets. That will control people's behaviour and we support that."

4. Alcohol Focus Scotland Consultation response – “Substantial body of international evidence which shows that raising the price of alcohol is one of the most effective policy tools for tackling alcohol misuse”

5. WHO Commission report on “Closing the gap in a Generation” – “There is substantial evidence that an increase in alcohol prices reduces consumption and the level of alcohol-related problems…the effects on alcohol related harms are definite and the costs low, making it a cost effective measure.”

6. ACPOS response to consultation – Addressing the price at which alcohol is sold should be an integral part of any long-term strategic approach to tackling alcohol misuse…. The Scottish Police Service supports any proposals to set minimum retail pricing.”

7. Dr Peter Terry, Chairman of the British Medical Association in Scotland, said
(Source: Scottish Government News Release, 2/03/09): “The BMA fully supports a wide-ranging strategy that tackles price and availability, which we consider are key to successfully addressing this problem. We particularly welcome its proposals on minimum price and promotions, as evidence shows that the increased affordability of alcohol is driving the damaging levels of consumption in Scotland.”

8. Paul Waterson, Chief Executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association,
said (Source: SG News Release, 2/03/09): “The link between excessive drinking and promotions and deep-discounting in offsales - particularly supermarkets - is the major contributing factor we see with alcohol problems in Scotland. “Not only does the SLTA agree with minimum pricing, it’s a view shared by licensed trade leaders from the rest of the UK and Ireland.”

9. Jack Law, Chief Executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said (Source: Scottish
Government News Release, 2/03/09): The publication of this Alcohol Framework which shows that the Scottish Government is leading the way in the world and taking seriously the need to address our harmful drinking culture. Regulating the price and availability of alcohol are the measures most effective in reducing alcohol consumption and related harm to
individuals, families and society.

10. Chief executive of the British Institute of Innkeeping, a professional body for the licensed trade, Neil Robertson said;
“BII members are in favour of minimum pricing, in and of itself, as it reduces the differential between the cheap booze we see sold in some off licensed premises and the alcohol sold in the regulated, monitored environment of the pub. We don’t support the use of promotions based around cheap drinks in any type of licensed premises and would welcome closer parity in the price of alcohol.”

“It is hoped that the pricing measures announced in Scotland will help reduce the number of street drinkers, whose chaotic behaviour is often blamed on neighbouring on sales premises, and thus reduce the need for the proposed social responsibility fee while at the same time helping to improve the nation’s health.”

11. In an interview with The Times Stephen Thomas, Chief Executive of nighclub firm Luminar said that minimum pricing on alcohol was “definitely the right thing to do” and expressed his concern over “pre-loading” by young people on cheap supermarket booze before going out. “I can buy a pint of lager in Asda for 25p - that can't be right. It's nuts when you can buy beer cheaper than water.”

In a further interview today Stephen Thomas said;

“People drink to the extent of their pockets. If you have £10 you can go and buy 40 pints of lager and drink this rubbish. The health and disorder implications are mad. We know that when people consume alcohol their behaviour changes, There has to be a regulation that says you can’t sell alcohol irresponsibly. This isn’t an on-licence or an off-licence issue. It’s an alcohol issue

12. Professor Anne Ludbrook, one of the authors of NICE guidance on preventing harmful drinking, on publication of the guidance on 2 June 2010 said (Source: BBC news 2 June 2010): “Alcohol is much more affordable now than it ever has been – and the price people pay does not reflect the cost of the health and social harms that arise. When it is sold at a very low price, people often buy and then consume more than they otherwise would have done.”

13. World Health Organisation in its Global Strategy published on 21 May 2010 (Source: WHO news release): “increasing the price of alcoholic beverages is one of the most effective interventions to reduce harmful use of alcohol.”

14. Sarah Wollaston MP (new Conservative MP for Totnes, GP and former police surgeon) on 7 June 2010 (Source: The Independent) said: “Ministers should examine the evidence from other countries that setting minimum prices “disproportionately reduces the intake of high-risk groups”. There is no doubt it would be initially unpopular – people would says it’s the nanny state and it’s not what government should be about. But if the Government took the brave step of introducing a minimum price, in five years’ time people would see there had been a major difference.”

“Binge drinking had increased over the last two decades, over which time alcohol had become 70 per cent more affordable. More expensive alcohol – which would prevent shops selling cut-price drinks but would not affect the pub trade – was a small price to pay compared with the huge social and medical costs of excess drinking.”

15. Mike Lees, MD of Tennent Caledonian on 22 January 2010 (Source: BBC lunchtime news) “We recognise there is an issue of overconsumption of alcohol among a minority of consumers, and acknowledge the Scottish Government is working to try to combat this problem. We believe that, if implemented appropriately, minimum pricing could be part of the solution by increasing the price of alcohol, particularly high-strength products.”