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| Minimum UK alcohol pricing gets backing of official health advisers | |
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| A review commissioned by the government from its health advisers has concluded that ministers should introduce minimum unit pricing of alcohol to tackle the grim medical, economic and social toll of drink-related harm. | A review commissioned by the government from its health advisers has concluded that ministers should introduce minimum unit pricing of alcohol to tackle the grim medical, economic and social toll of drink-related harm. |
| The in-depth study(pdf) has found that drink is now the biggest killer of people aged between 15 and 49 in England. It accounts for 167,000 years of lost productivity each year and is a factor in more than 200 different illnesses. | The in-depth study(pdf) has found that drink is now the biggest killer of people aged between 15 and 49 in England. It accounts for 167,000 years of lost productivity each year and is a factor in more than 200 different illnesses. |
| It leads to such huge harm that the lost economic activity it produces, through early death and disability among workers, is more than that for the 10 most common cancers combined, the review found. | It leads to such huge harm that the lost economic activity it produces, through early death and disability among workers, is more than that for the 10 most common cancers combined, the review found. |
| The study’s publication by Public Health England (PHE) is an embarrassment for ministers because it says they should embrace a policy that they have rejected due to an alleged lack of evidence. | The study’s publication by Public Health England (PHE) is an embarrassment for ministers because it says they should embrace a policy that they have rejected due to an alleged lack of evidence. |
| The report says: “Policies that reduce the affordability of alcohol are the most effective, and cost-effective, approaches to prevention and health improvement … Implementing an MUP [minimum unit price] is a highly targeted measure which ensures any resulting price increases are passed on to the consumer, improving the health of the heaviest drinkers who experience the greatest amount of harm. MUP would have a negligible impact on moderate drinkers and the price of alcohol sold in pubs, bars and restaurants.” | The report says: “Policies that reduce the affordability of alcohol are the most effective, and cost-effective, approaches to prevention and health improvement … Implementing an MUP [minimum unit price] is a highly targeted measure which ensures any resulting price increases are passed on to the consumer, improving the health of the heaviest drinkers who experience the greatest amount of harm. MUP would have a negligible impact on moderate drinkers and the price of alcohol sold in pubs, bars and restaurants.” |
| The coalition government pledged in March 2012 to bring in the policy, but it made a U-turn in July 2013, earning condemnation from medical organisations and arousing strong suspicions that it had caved in to intense lobbying by the alcohol industry. | The coalition government pledged in March 2012 to bring in the policy, but it made a U-turn in July 2013, earning condemnation from medical organisations and arousing strong suspicions that it had caved in to intense lobbying by the alcohol industry. |
| PHE, the government’s advisory agency on public health issues including obesity and smoking, published its “comprehensive review of the evidence on alcohol harm and its impact in England” in the Lancet medical journal on Friday. | PHE, the government’s advisory agency on public health issues including obesity and smoking, published its “comprehensive review of the evidence on alcohol harm and its impact in England” in the Lancet medical journal on Friday. |
| Sources say senior PHE officials feel its remit prevents it from explicitly backing minimum pricing, though ministerial opposition may also be a factor. Nevertheless, the report leaves little doubt regarding its support for the policy, observing that “the financial burden which alcohol-related harm places on society is not reflected in its market price, with taxpayers picking up a larger amount of the overall cost compared to the individual drinkers”. | Sources say senior PHE officials feel its remit prevents it from explicitly backing minimum pricing, though ministerial opposition may also be a factor. Nevertheless, the report leaves little doubt regarding its support for the policy, observing that “the financial burden which alcohol-related harm places on society is not reflected in its market price, with taxpayers picking up a larger amount of the overall cost compared to the individual drinkers”. |
| It says pricing policies should be updated in line with changes in income and inflation, “in order to retain their relative affordability and therefore be able to impact upon alcohol-related harm”. | It says pricing policies should be updated in line with changes in income and inflation, “in order to retain their relative affordability and therefore be able to impact upon alcohol-related harm”. |
| The new analysis has examined all the available evidence globally on alcohol harm and the steps effective in reducing it. | The new analysis has examined all the available evidence globally on alcohol harm and the steps effective in reducing it. |
| PHE makes clear that the pricing of drink and the way it is marketed – issues of concern to medical groups – need to be urgently re-examined. It says policies can “address market failures by protecting people from the harm caused by other people’s drinking, deterring children from drinking, and improving consumer awareness of the risks of alcohol consumption.” | PHE makes clear that the pricing of drink and the way it is marketed – issues of concern to medical groups – need to be urgently re-examined. It says policies can “address market failures by protecting people from the harm caused by other people’s drinking, deterring children from drinking, and improving consumer awareness of the risks of alcohol consumption.” |
| The review, undertaken by PHE and researchers from Sheffield University, found that the economic burden of health, social and economic alcohol-related harm was substantial, with estimates placing the annual cost at between 1.3% and 2.7% of annual GDP. | The review, undertaken by PHE and researchers from Sheffield University, found that the economic burden of health, social and economic alcohol-related harm was substantial, with estimates placing the annual cost at between 1.3% and 2.7% of annual GDP. |
| “In 2015 there were an estimated 167,000 working years lost due to alcohol, 16% of all working years lost in England,” it says. “More working years are lost to alcohol than the 10 most frequent cancer types combined.” | “In 2015 there were an estimated 167,000 working years lost due to alcohol, 16% of all working years lost in England,” it says. “More working years are lost to alcohol than the 10 most frequent cancer types combined.” |
| The authors’ conclusions will pose difficulties for the Department of Health, which asked PHE to undertake the assessment of the latest research. It will now face questions about why the government is not pushing ahead with introducing the policy, given that the evidence suggests it would be effective. | The authors’ conclusions will pose difficulties for the Department of Health, which asked PHE to undertake the assessment of the latest research. It will now face questions about why the government is not pushing ahead with introducing the policy, given that the evidence suggests it would be effective. |
| In 2013 the government justified abandoning its plans by saying public consultation had “not provided evidence that conclusively demonstrates that minimum unit pricing will actually do what it is meant to: reduce problem drinking without penalising all those who drink responsibly.” | In 2013 the government justified abandoning its plans by saying public consultation had “not provided evidence that conclusively demonstrates that minimum unit pricing will actually do what it is meant to: reduce problem drinking without penalising all those who drink responsibly.” |
| It is unclear how Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, will respond to the results of a review that his own department asked PHE to instigate. | It is unclear how Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, will respond to the results of a review that his own department asked PHE to instigate. |
| Medical groups want ministers to take tougher action on alcohol. Although total alcohol consumption has fallen since 2008, that has not been accompanied by a drop in alcohol-related harm. | Medical groups want ministers to take tougher action on alcohol. Although total alcohol consumption has fallen since 2008, that has not been accompanied by a drop in alcohol-related harm. |
| Nicola Sturgeon’s Scottish National party government in Edinburgh plans to introduce minimum unit pricing in Scotland if it successfully sees off a legal challenge against the policy brought by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA). | Nicola Sturgeon’s Scottish National party government in Edinburgh plans to introduce minimum unit pricing in Scotland if it successfully sees off a legal challenge against the policy brought by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA). |
| The Holyrood administration won the last round of the battle in the courts in Edinburgh in October, but the SWA is appealing against that decision at the UK supreme court in London. The Scottish government hopes to set a minimum price of 50p a unit, the level backed by many doctors. The scrapped Westminster plan was to have set the level at 45p a unit. | The Holyrood administration won the last round of the battle in the courts in Edinburgh in October, but the SWA is appealing against that decision at the UK supreme court in London. The Scottish government hopes to set a minimum price of 50p a unit, the level backed by many doctors. The scrapped Westminster plan was to have set the level at 45p a unit. |
| Medical and public health groups are likely to welcome the new findings but alcohol firms are expected to dismiss them. Manufacturers often argue that a minimum unit price would penalise responsible drinkers who stick to the amounts of alcohol recommended by the chief medical officers of the four home nations. That guidance was revised in January to set a weekly consumption limit of 14 units for men as well as women, down from the 21 units previously advised for males. | Medical and public health groups are likely to welcome the new findings but alcohol firms are expected to dismiss them. Manufacturers often argue that a minimum unit price would penalise responsible drinkers who stick to the amounts of alcohol recommended by the chief medical officers of the four home nations. That guidance was revised in January to set a weekly consumption limit of 14 units for men as well as women, down from the 21 units previously advised for males. |
| However, previous evidence has concluded that the move would save thousands of lives because the heaviest drinkers are most likely to consume less as a result of the hike in price. | However, previous evidence has concluded that the move would save thousands of lives because the heaviest drinkers are most likely to consume less as a result of the hike in price. |
| • This article was amended on 2 December 2016 to add a mention of the Scotch Whisky Association’s legal challenge to plans for minimum unit pricing of alcohol in Scotland. An earlier version said the SNP government was “pressing ahead” with the introduction of the policy. | • This article was amended on 2 December 2016 to add a mention of the Scotch Whisky Association’s legal challenge to plans for minimum unit pricing of alcohol in Scotland. An earlier version said the SNP government was “pressing ahead” with the introduction of the policy. |