A new study suggests that minimum pricing of alcohol will reduce consumption amongst Scotland’s heaviest drinkers. The study which explored the drinking habits of patients referred to alcohol problems services in Edinburgh in 2008/09 found that:
• The lower the price a patient paid per unit of alcohol, the more units they consumed.
• Most of the alcohol consumed was bought from off-licenced premises where the cheapest alcohol is sold. The average price paid per unit of alcohol was 34p which is much lower than the average paid per unit in Scotland as a whole.
• Off-licensed purchases were made in roughly equal proportions from supermarkets and local/independent shops.
• 75% of patients reported never purchasing alcohol from on-licensed settings.
• Vodka was reportedly the most popular drink, but it was noted that white cider provided a particularly cheap access to alcohol.
• Patients in the study consumed on average 198 units of alcohol in a typical drinking week. The recommended weekly limit for men is 21 and 14 for women.
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