News and Press

New research shows cheap alcohol is bought by all income groups

4 May 2010

Claims that minimum pricing for alcohol is unfair because it will only impact on low-income families are called into question by new research showing that people across all income groups buy cheap alcohol. An analysis of household income and expenditure patterns undertaken by Professor Anne Ludbrook, Aberdeen University, has revealed:

• all income groups buy cheap alcohol;
• middle-to-higher income groups are as likely to buy off-sales alcohol below 40p a unit as the lowest income groups;
• the highest income households purchase the most off-sales alcohol;
• low-income households are less likely to purchase any off-sales alcohol. Only 1 out of 3 households in the lowest income group buy off-sales alcohol, compared to 2 out of 3 households in the highest income group.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Bruce Ritson, Chair of Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP), said:

“This new research indicates that concerns that low-income households will be the only ones targeted by minimum pricing may be unfounded as cheap alcohol is bought by all households. In fact, as the people on the lowest incomes are less likely to buy any off-sales alcohol, they will be less affected by minimum pricing overall. Rather than being targeted at poorer households, minimum pricing will have a selective effect on the heaviest drinkers whom we know consume almost two-thirds of the low-cost alcohol. We hope this new evidence will allay some of the concerns that have been expressed and will encourage politicians in all parties to support minimum pricing. Controls on price will deliver the greatest health benefits to the people of Scotland and in particular, to those living in our most disadvantaged communities who currently bear a disproportionate share of the burden of harm caused by alcohol”

Read the full findings: Purchasing Patterns for Low Price Alcohol: Evidence from the Expenditure and Food Survey, [pdf, 16pp]. The analysis uses data from the Expenditure and Food Survey 2007 and combines information on alcohol expenditure data and purchased quantity with household income.