Health Benefits

Health benefits of minimum pricing for alcohol in Scotland

If a minimum price of 40p per unit of alcohol was introduced along with a ban on price promotions, it is estimated that:

• Consumption among harmful drinkers in Scotland would fall 8.7 per cent (294 units of alcohol), equivalent to 118 cans of strong lager/cider or 11 bottles of vodka per drinker per year 

• Deaths would fall by about 70 in the first year and 365 per year by year 10 of the policy 

• A reduction in illnesses of 1,200 in the first year and 3,700 per year by year 10 A reduction in general hospital admissions of 1,600 in the first year and 6,300 per year by year 10 (representing 15 per cent of total alcohol-related admissions).

Other benefits: 

• A reduction in crime of 3,200 offences per year 

• Nearly 30,000 fewer workdays lost through absenteeism and 1,250 fewer people unemployed because of alcohol per year 

• Harmful drinkers would pay an extra £137 per year, compared to just £11 for moderate drinkers 

• A financial saving from harm reduction (health, crime, etc) of £60 million in year one and £950 million over 10 years.

These findings come from a study carried out by Sheffield University that considered the implications of a range of minimum pricing options and a ban on quantity discount promotions in Scotland. See: Model-based appraisal of alcohol minimum pricing and off-licensed trade discount bans in Scotland [pdf, 193pp]