Less affordable

Alcohol is being sold for pocket money prices across the North East. A two litre bottle of cider can be purchased for as little as £1.34, a can of lager for 23p and a unit of alcohol for just 12p. There is a clear association between affordability and consumption – one in four North Easterners have considered drinking less because of financial reasons.

Research shows that as prices go up, drinking goes down. So, to put it simply, we need to increase the price of the cheapest, strongest alcohol which is traditionally consumed by the youngest and heaviest drinkers in our region.

It is widely agreed by industry experts that the introduction of a minimum price per unit of alcohol is the most effective and fairest way of doing this. Research conducted by experts at Sheffield University indicates that introducing a minimum price per unit of alcohol of 50p would cut consumption, deaths, crimes, hospital admissions and the economic burden.

Importantly, it would hit the youngest and heaviest drinkers the hardest and have little, if any, impact of the price of a pint in a typical local pub.

The facts:

• A recent analysis of 112 studies on the effects of alcohol tax increases revealed that when taxes go up, drinking goes down, including among problem drinkers and young drinkers.

• Research carried out by the University of Sheffield in 2009 shows that a minimum price of 50p per unit would cut consumption and consequentially deaths, crimes and hospital admissions and reduce the economic burden. It also suggests that if a minimum price of 40p a unit was introduced, moderate drinkers would only be estimated to spend an extra 21p per week on alcohol.

• Introducing a minimum price will hit younger, heavier drinkers harder – not touching the price of a pint in the community pub.

• One in four North Easterners say they have considered drinking less for financial reasons.

• One third of North Easterners say alcohol sold by supermarkets is too cheap.

• 49% of North Easterners support a minimum price per unit of alcohol.

• More than three in four North Easterners say their support for a minimum price would increase if alcohol related crime and violence and drunk and rowdy behaviour reduced as a result.

• More than half of publicans said they were forced to offer drinks promotions to counteract supermarket price cuts.

• Seven in ten publicans would welcome legislation to prevent supermarkets from selling alcohol at pocket money prices.