The Big Drink Debate – talking about our relationship with alcohol in the North West

‘Our Life’ carried out a survey in 2008 called the Big Drink Debate, which involved 30,000 people.  It was an opinion survey about attitudes and behaviour in relation to alcohol.  Surveys were completed on paper, on line, through interviews (for instance in the back of taxis).  The findings of the survey have been reinforced by community engagement events since then.
The role of Our Life as an organisation is to gain a better deal for public health by influencing legislation and how the alcohol industry and food industry behave in relation to alcohol

Some Statistics

• Alcohol related illness and injury costs the NHS over £400M per year
• Since 1970, consumption of alcohol in Europe has gone down but in the UK has risen by 40%.  Between 1980 and 2007, affordability of alcohol has increased by 67% in relation to household income.  It’s no longer just a treat.  People rely on alcohol to cope with the world but instead it exacerbates the stress situation.  The market has changed.
• 80% think that low prices/discounts increase consumption
• Less than 25% think that an increase in price will decrease consumptions
• 45% of people avoid town centres (this is more like 60% in some places) due to alcohol induced behaviour.
• 71% of people are concerned about the drunken behaviour of others
• 3/10 people drink at harmful/hazardous levels
• Only 7% feel they don’t know enough about the health risks – therefore, most people who drink alcohol know the dangers
• More than 2/5 people are concerned about the impact of drinking on their weight/appearance
• Those who drink at a harmful level are 6 times more likely to say that alcohol relieves boredom or helps them to forget their problems.
• 65% of people purchase alcohol from supermarkets
• 45% of people surveyed drink in pubs
• 69% of pub-goers thought that alcohol made the night out fun, compared to only 30% of those drinking at home – this is a worrying trend, as those going out to socialise are using alcohol in a different way to those drinking at home, possibly alone.

What is being done?

The nanny state is a concern – it’s important not to have too many regulations.  Most people agree that the government/council should do something, but what?

• There is a ‘Sale of Alcohol Mandatory Code’ which has been brought in.  This has stopped pubs and clubs making offers such as ‘women drink free’ and ‘drink all night for £10’
• 75% of people wanted the content of a ‘unit’ to be made clearer (one unit = 10ml of pure alcohol).
• 59% of people wanted a standard smaller measure to be available
• 91% wanted free tap water available in pubs, clubs and restaurant – this has recently become a legal requirement, so no one should be refused any more

In view of the public concern over the availability of alcohol, Our Life is campaigning for a minimum unit price of 50p – this is not a tax but a minimum price.  A tax would put all prices up.  Alternatively, a minimum price means that a unit of alcohol cannot be sold for less than a certain price, so drinks with a higher alcohol content would cost more, as the minimum price is based on the strength of the drink.  The minimum price will hit supermarkets rather than pubs and restaurants, reducing the availability of very cheap alcohol.

Sheffield University commissioned a modelling exercise to look at how different price levels would affect purchases and therefore change consumption.  A minimum unit price of 50p would mean a fall in overall consumption of 6.9% and prevent 3,400 deaths, 98,000 hospital admissions and 300,000 days of workplace absence per annum.

The minimum unit price campaign is gathering momentum – the government accepts that they need to intervene and has a role to play to prevent alcohol getting cheaper.  The local authorities in the North west are looking at the minimum unit price at a local level – Stockport Council are leading a study for the Greater Manchester area (the 10 local authorities in AGMA –Association of Greater Manchester Authorities) as it is complicated to implement restrictions.

Studies have consistently shown that over the past 4-5 years consumption for most age ranges has levelled off (possibly due to the recession and health messages getting through to people).  However, drinking amongst young people continues to rise.  The NHS reports that patients with liver problems are getting younger ant that there has also been an increase in the number of patients who have drunk too much and need emergency treatment for alcohol poisoning – this is mainly caused by cheap alcohol products bought from supermarkets.

Advertising is a huge and powerful machine.  Alco-pops were marketed to young people as ‘pop’ and the government focussed on curbing this advertising.  However, the drinks are expensive, which puts young people off drinking them.  The preferred choice is cheap cider and vodka.

More information on the studies and campaigns can be found at the following addresses and websites:

Information on Big Drink Debate findings: 
Penny A Cook
Centre for Public Health
Faculty of Health and Applied Social Sciences
Liverpool John Moores University
Castle House, North Street Liverpool, L3 2AY
Email: p.a.cook@ljmu.ac.uk 
Tel: 0151 231 4510

Campaign for a minimum price for alcohol
Visit the Our Life website at www.ourlife.org.uk
The ‘Policy and Research’ section of the website also provides links to reports on research that has taken place as well as details of new studies being carried out.