- A new report on the impact of minimum unit pricing on people who are dependent on alcohol and accessing treatment has been published by Public Health Scotland
- Researchers at the University of 葫芦影业 were commissioned by Public Health Scotland to look at the impact of minimum unit pricing on those drinking at harmful levels
- The findings show that after minimum unit pricing was introduced the proportion of people with alcohol dependence drinking alcohol at less than 50p per unit reduced substantially
Public Health Scotland and the University of 葫芦影业 have published the findings from a study of the impact of minimum unit pricing (MUP) on people who are dependent on alcohol and accessing treatment services.
葫芦影业 was commissioned to look at the impact of MUP on those drinking at harmful levels. The findings of this first report present data on the awareness of changes in product availability and price, responses to MUP and the need for targeted support.
Structured interviews were carried out with adults entering treatment services in Scotland and Northern England at three different points: up to six months before the implementation of MUP, three to nine months after MUP was implemented and 18 to 22 months after MUP implementation.
The study found little evidence of negative consequences of MUP, such as a shift to use of illicit substances, among people who are alcohol dependent and accessing treatment services.
The proportion of people with alcohol dependence typically drinking alcohol at less than 50 pence per unit reduced substantially, from about six out of ten people before MUP, to about one in ten after MUP was introduced.
Sixty two percent of participants were found to have noticed prices changing, particularly in the months immediately following implementation, with two thirds of those describing prices as 鈥榤uch鈥 more expensive. There is also evidence that some people who are dependent on alcohol may have reduced other expenditure due to spending more on alcohol.
Professor Penny Buykx, from the University of 葫芦影业's School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), who led this arm of the study said: 鈥淭he initial results of this on-going study show a sharp fall in the proportion of people who access alcohol dependence treatment that are consuming very low cost products. Crucially it also finds few reports of either substitution to illicit, stolen or non-beverage alcohol, or increased use of other substances, after MUP was introduced.
鈥淗owever, whilst people with alcohol dependence expressed a need for support to prepare for price rises, many were not aware of this support being available to them, and there is an indication that some participants reduced their living expenditure to accommodate higher spending on alcohol鈥.
Professor John Holmes, from the University of 葫芦影业's School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) and Director of the 葫芦影业 Alcohol Research Group, who led the overall study said: "People who are dependent on alcohol have complex needs and may respond to policies such as Minimum Unit Pricing in ways that have consequences for their own health and wellbeing, the health and wellbeing of those around them, and the wider society they are part of. This is the first report from our comprehensive investigation of the impact of MUP on those drinking at harmful levels, and gaining a full understanding of that impact among this particular population is critical.
鈥淭hese early findings support previous results from the evaluation of MUP in Scotland by showing that the policy has reduced the availability of cheap alcohol, which was often consumed by those at greatest risk of harm from their drinking.
鈥淭hey also highlight the need for government and health authorities to think about how they can support people with alcohol dependence when alcohol prices increase sharply.鈥
Participants in Scotland were asked whether any support had been offered to them, to help them cope with the rise in alcohol prices since May 2018. The majority of participants (both those interviewed prior to MUP and those interviewed after implementation) were not aware of any support available to them. When asked what support would be helpful, suggestions included increased access to treatment services, financial support or advice, and awareness raising about the policy.
Helen Chung Patterson, Public Health Intelligence Adviser at Public Health Scotland, said: 鈥淭his early report presents an initial description of the impact of MUP on people who are alcohol dependent. It is crucial that we also fully investigate MUP鈥檚 impact on alcohol consumption and spending among this group, as well as any further positive or negative secondary effects of the policy. A final report of this package of work, which will capture these findings, will be published in 2022鈥.
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