Minimum pricing for drink will hit middle classes as well as poor

Published on Monday 3 May 2010 22:52

CONCERNS that minimum pricing for alcohol is unfair because it will only affect those on a low income have been called into question by new research.

A study by Aberdeen University has shown that people across all income groups buy cheap alcohol, not just the poorest.

The Scottish Government has put forward controversial plans to bring in a minimum price per unit for alcohol as part of a range of measures aimed at tackling Scotland's drink problem.

But the SNP administration lacks the political support to get its plan through Holyrood, with Labour, the Tories and Liberal Democrats all opposed to the move.

The new research counters claims by opposition parties who say that any attempt set a minimum price would target people with low incomes disproportionately.

The study, carried out by Professor Anne Ludbrook of Aberdeen University, was an analysis of household income and expenditure patterns.

It found little difference between those with the lowest incomes and middle-income households when it came to how much alcohol priced at below 30p a unit they bought.

When drink was priced at 30p to 50p a unit, the amount purchased tended to increase with income, with those in middle to higher income groups being the main buyers of alcohol in this price range.

The study also shows that high-income groups buy more drink from off-sales premises than any other social group, and that low-income ones buy the least.

Prof Ludbrook said that her research dispelled the myth that only low-income groups bought cheap drink.

"It is well established that controlling the price of alcohol is one of the most effective means of reducing damaging levels of consumption," she said.

"Some concern has been expressed that this measure will only raise alcohol prices for people on low incomes. However, the evidence shows that households in all income groups buy cheap alcohol."

She said that the aim of the research had been clear up a point of the debate that previously had not been researched properly.

Dr Bruce Ritson, chair of Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP), said that the research added to the evidence that the SNP's policy would be an effective tool in tackling alcohol abuse.

He said: "We hope this new evidence will allay some of the concerns that have been expressed and will encourage politicians in all parties to support minimum pricing."

A spokesman for the Labour Party said that their opposition to minimum pricing stood.

"We are aware of this research, but there is a key flaw in it – those with high levels of income will be able to absorb the financial impact minimum alcohol pricing will have, while lower-income groups will be disproportionately affected by the increase."