News and Press
Duty-busting tactics show why minimum alcohol pricing is vital, say Scotlands doctors
1 Apr 2010
A flood of cheap alcohol promotions in the lead up to Easter and the announcement by a leading cider producer that it will absorb the full cost of the rise in alcohol duty makes the case for introducing minimum pricing to reduce alcohol-related deaths in Scotland, senior doctors in Scotland have said today (Thursday April 1 2010).
Dr Bruce Ritson, Chair of Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) said today:
“Following the Budget, many retailers have followed the lead of Magners cider and absorbed the cost of the duty increase, with a number of big supermarkets continuing to offer the same cut price promotions. Where retailers have passed on the duty increase, there has been little impact on the price of the cheapest alcohol. For example, a two litre bottle of cider which cost £1.20 before the budget now costs £1.32. This works out at 15p per unit of alcohol. If minimum pricing was introduced, the price of this product would triple and a reduction in harmful consumption would be much more likely.
“The ability of big alcohol producers and retailers to undermine the impact of tax rises by cutting profit margins, or selling alcohol at a loss, means that duty increases alone are not sufficient to reduce consumption and harm. To be effective in improving health and well-being, increased taxation must be implemented along with minimum prices for alcohol.”
Dr Brian Keighley, Chair of BMA Scotland added:
“Minimum pricing for alcohol guarantees that retail prices for alcohol will rise but it specifically targets those low-cost alcohol products that are of most concern. Controls on the price of alcohol are one of the most effective means we have of reducing the damage caused by alcohol. The NHS is being overwhelmed by alcohol-related illness and injury and strong political leadership is required to begin the shift towards a more sensible approach to alcohol in Scotland. This is not an either/or situation. We need both increased taxation and minimum pricing if we are to stem the tide of alcohol harm in Scotland.”