29 July 2015
Researchers:
Professor Jonathan Chick, Dr Jan Gill1 Edinburgh (Napier University), Robert Rush, Professor Barbara McPake, Fiona O’May, Heather Black, Cheryl Rees , Jane Doogan Christine Galloway, Lucie Michalova.
Key findings
- Drinkers in this study consumed an average (median) of 185 units per week, and paid an average of 40 pence per unit of alcohol. Off–sales accounted for 95% of purchases. 85% of off-sales purchases were less than 50p per unit.
- Cheap alcohol – in particular vodka and white cider – accounted for most of the units consumed by heavy drinkers in this study.
- As alcohol became less affordable, heavy drinkers ‘traded down’ to cheap vodka and white cider in order to maintain consumption levels.
- The key factors influencing harm were amount of alcohol consumed, deprivation and smoking. Among women, the ‘Glasgow effect’ was visible, with those living in Glasgow experiencing greater health harms despite comparable consumption.
- Very heavy drinkers would be significantly affected by MUP, but the precise effects on consumption cannot be predicted from this study. Fewer purchases may be accompanied by shifts in expenditure, pooling resources and other strategies to mitigate the effects.
