The UK has seen a steady increase in levels of alcohol consumption over the last twenty years. This has resulted in more alcohol-related deaths, more hospital admissions, and increased levels of crimes across the country.
According to the authors, the reason for this increase in consumption is clear- at a population level, alcohol consumption is driven by price, availability and marketing. In Britain today, supermarkets and large retailers provide easily accessible, cheap alcohol, with some outlets selling beer more cheaply than bottled water. This, combined with sophisticated marketing techniques, has led to a significant increase in consumption, with an increase close to 40% since the 1970s [1].
Whilst acknowledging efforts by successive UK governments to tackle the issue, the article highlights recent proposals by the Scottish government and the Chief Medical Officer for England (CMO) to introduce minimum pricing on alcohol as particularly progressive.
According to the authors, the recommendations from Scotland and the CMO for England are based on systematic reviews of the role of pricing and promotion on consumption, and the impact of consumption on health and social harm. They counter the claim that this measure would be an ’attack on ordinary people’ by stressing the greater effect it would have on underage and heavy drinkers.
The article calls for policy makers to reflect upon the tobacco control experience, and encourages them to invoke the principle of public health defence when introducing new measures.
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Department of Health
Royal College of Physicians
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