Minimum price is a must
Sue Taylor, Partnerships Manager for Balance, said: “It’s no secret that our region has a huge problem with alcohol misuse. We have the highest rate of alcohol related hospital admissions and the highest rate of alcohol related deaths for men in the UK. It’s really important and greatly welcome that the Prime Minister has come to see the problem for himself.
“Pocket money prices, widespread availability and heavy promotion increase alcohol consumption. Innovative local solutions are helpful but this problem is so big that we need to introduce preventative measures at a population level. These are the measures that must be part of the upcoming alcohol strategy and include a minimum price per unit of alcohol, an approach which has reportedly drawn interest from Mr Cameron, and preventing the alcohol industry from recruiting our children via marketing.
“The world’s alcohol experts are meeting this week to look at the problems and proven solutions and the Government needs to follow the evidence base. Only then will we start to turn back the tide of alcohol misuse.”
Research carried out by Balance and published for the first time today reveals that more than half of North Easterners (56%) support the introduction of a minimum price per unit of alcohol. This is an increase of 7% from 2010.
The study also shows that:
- A third (35%) of North Easterners think supermarket alcohol is too cheap against just over one in ten (13%) who think it is too expensive
- Half (53%) would pay more for alcohol if it led to societal benefits (up 6% from 2010)
- 84% would increase their support for a minimum price if it reduced alcohol related harm and violence
- 83% would increase their support if it reduced incidences of drunk and rowdy behaviour
- 80% would increase their support if it reduced the amount under 18s drink
- 78% would increase their support if it reduced the cost of alcohol related burden to the NHS
- 69% believe it will only penalise heavy drinkers and those who buy cheap alcohol.
Sue added: “It’s important to remember that the problems we face are getting worse and that it wasn’t always this way. Alcohol is not like other commodities and it needs to be controlled – as it was not so many years ago.”