Increase on Alcohol Duty must come with minimum price setting, says Addaction

An increase on Alcohol Duty must be combined with minimum price setting if it is to have the desired impact on binge drinking among young people, says Addaction, Britain’s biggest drug and alcohol treatment charity in response to the budget today. The charity praised the Chancellor for increasing duty on alcohol across the board but warned that additional measures are needed to tackle excessive drinking among young people.

International evidence shows that increasing the price of the cheapest alcohol is one of the most effective ways to reduce harmful drinking (1). Commenting on the Budget, Addaction Director of Operations Richard McKendrick said:

“Every day we see the lasting damage alcohol does to the young people and families we work with so we congratulate the government for taking this step. This was not the ten per cent widely hoped for, but an increase on alcohol duty across the board is to be welcomed because the young people we work with drink the cheapest booze they can buy - not pricey alcopops.

“However this must be combined with legislation that will see minimum prices fixed to avoid supermarkets absorbing the costs before they are passed on to the consumer. It is still a scandal that you can buy alcohol more cheaply than water in major supermarkets.

“Plainly, the cheap cost of alcohol is just one factor affecting binge drinking. With alcohol advertising, particularly sponsorship in sport, continuing to influence young people and an adult culture that permits and even encourages excessive drinking, we cannot expect young people’s behaviour to change without broader cultural change.”

ENDS

For further information please contact the Addaction press office on 0207 017 2866 or 07899 068151

Notes to editors

(1) Many international studies, including studies of the Swedish system, have shown that an overall price increase leads to a reduction in sales. One of the key findings of a study of the Swedish system was that increasing the price of the very cheapest alcohol is most effective in reducing consumption (Source: Alcohol Focus Scotland)

Drinking has doubled among underage drinkers since 1990 – rising from 5.3 units to 11.4 units. International evidence shows that increasing the price of cheap alcohol is one of the most effective ways to tackle consumption. Alcohol is more affordable now than at any point in the last 25 years and supermarkets and off-licenses regularly slash prices on alcohol to encourage sales, putting booze well within reach of the average teenager.

Addaction would like to see additional measures to tackle binge drinking and heavy drinking among young people including:

• Drug and alcohol liaison nurses in every hospital casualty department to provide treatment and support

• More outreach work in cooperation with police in local drinking hotspots, where those young people who drink at the highest levels tend to group

• Earlier targeting of at-risk youngsters, such as those truanting from school

Addaction is Britain’s biggest specialist drug and alcohol treatment charity, supporting over 26,000 people with drug and alcohol problems. We have over 70 services in England and Scotland for individuals and their families, including nine dedicated services supporting young people and their families affected by problem drug and alcohol use

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