Minimum price for alcohol 'would save 500 people a year'
A MINIMUM price for alcohol would cut the number of people needing hospital treatment in Nottingham by 500 a year, health bosses say.
The city has some of the highest rates of binge drinking in the country, with more than 5,000 people admitted to hospital due to alcohol a year.
NHS Nottingham City, which plans and pays for healthcare, says the availability of cheap alcohol is part of the problem.
And it estimates that bringing in a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol would eventually cut alcohol-related admissions by 500.
This would happen gradually by cutting the number of people drinking cheap alcohol.
A minimum price of 50p per unit would stop supermarkets and other stores selling alcohol cheaply to bring in customers.
But it would have little effect on most pubs, as their drinks already cost more than 50p per unit of alcohol.
Earlier this year, supermarket Iceland was reported to be selling a bottle of strong cider containing 22 units for just £2.75.
A minimum price has been backed by spending watchdog the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice).
But ministers, including the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, do not support the move.
A new report by NHS Nottingham City says a minimum alcohol price is one of the measures which could tackle harmful drinking.
Dr Chris Packham, director of public health, said there was lots of evidence about the impact of a minimum price.
He said: "One of things we think it would help with the most is under-age binge drinking, which is very damaging in all sorts of ways.
"We think it will have some effect on that. There are all sorts of reasons why it is a good idea not to have cut-price alcohol."
Another possibility is a new scheme where alcohol dependent offenders will be fast-tracked into treatment before going to court.
A new system is also being created so patients with different types of alcohol-related conditions are sent more quickly to the most appropriate service.
But the release of £100,000 needed from the Department of Health for this project has now been delayed.
The aim is to reduce the impact on the QMC's emergency department caused by alcohol-related illness.
Other work includes:
Improving alcohol education sessions at schools
More training for staff at stores where alcohol is sold
Police and paramedics going to emergency incidents together to prevent unnecessary visits to A&E.
Around one in 20 deaths in Nottingham are due to alcohol, one of the highest rates in the country.
The city has the highest rate of alcohol-related recorded crime in the country and alcohol is behind 60 per cent of domestic violence.
Nationally, deaths from alcohol abuse have more than doubled in the last 16 years.
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by Andyman, Derbys
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 6:34PM
“It seems to be a cultural or inbred response in a lot of guillable youngsters these days, listen to many of them talking. Were going out to get p1ssed, or were going out to get off our faces, or were going out to get bladdered are the usual i hear.
Some people even claim it is harking back to the days of restrictive opening hours where people went to the pub and got as much down them as possible in the restricted drinking times, but these have been over for a number of years now.
It seems ingrained into the youngsters these days.”
by Eddie, Notts
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 6:24PM
“The UK seems incapable of tackling this problem. If price is the cause of the problem why does the continent not have a much worse problem since drink is much cheaper? I do not think having a labour government is the reason so many people feel they need to drink to excess. The UK seems to have a behaviour problem particularly with young people but why?”
by Andyman, Derbys
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 6:19PM
“Sensible:
It is not alcohol which needs dealing with, it is a minority of abusers of alcohol which need dealing with. Why should a sensible majority suffer because of the actions of a few.
Raising alcohol simply creates more problems than it cures, it means thefts of alcohol will increase as those addicted to it will steal it rather than pay for it. It will open up the alcohol industry to cheap illegal imports from abroad, thus creating a black market.
Remember the booze cruises when people took vans to other European countries and filled them with fags and booze, thus losing the revenue.
It will turn many youngsters to the cheaper and easily available drugs and increase their sales so they can get their highs. This in itself merely moves the problem from one form of addiction to another, and encourages the promotion of illegal drugs.
One problem is the benefits system, registered alcoholics get additional payments on top of their benefits to buy alcohol, so why should the taxpayers fund an alcoholics drinking habits, this does nothing to deter alcoholics as it merely encourages them to continue, and at our expense.
Finally we have the problems of the cheap fake booze, it appears at most christmas times and thet sampled contains all sorts of illegal and nasty substances, so creating more long term health problems.”
by Andyman, Derbys
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 6:06PM
“Sensible:
It is not alcohol which needs dealing with, it is the minority who abuse it who need dealing with; this is why setting a minimum price would not help. One major problem is the benefits system pays those registered as alcoholics with additional payments over and above their normal benefits purely for them to buy alcohol, this is wrong.
Why should tha taxpayer buy alcohol for alcoholics.
If there is a minimum price introduced all it will do is create a black market for cheap illegally imported alcohol, and increase shoplifting and other forms of theft from those who cannot to now afford it. Remember the famous booze cruises with people loading vans with cheap booze from other European countries, it would also open up the market for the cheap faze booze which occasionally appears.
If the prices are set at minimum levels it will encourage youngsters to resort to cheaper drugs which are commonly available, to get their highs.”
by Sammy 111, Nottm
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 5:05PM
“m and williem, interesting points, i too feel this way, when people go to work all week for the pleasure of just keeping a roof over your head and food on the table life does become difficult. I work and have not had a holiday for 2 years whilst hearing stories of the poor unemployed managing all inclusive stays in the Carabean twice a year whilst I work to pay for such individuals.
if what is being proposed here denies me a few cans at a weekend something is wrong. I agree drugs are a far bigger problem and not taxable, Teenagers are far more likely to indulge in this pastime.”
by Sammy 111, Nottm
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 5:05PM
“m and williem, interesting points, i too feel this way, when people go to work all week for the pleasure of just keeping a roof over your head and food on the table life does become difficult. I work and have not had a holiday for 2 years whilst hearing stories of the poor unemployed managing all inclusive stays in the Carabean twice a year whilst I work to pay for such individuals.
if what is being proposed here denies me a few cans at a weekend something is wrong. I agree drugs are a far bigger problem and not taxable, Teenagers are far more likely to indulge in this pastime.”
by Mr. Sensible, The Real World
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 2:12PM
“Yes, Andyman, drugs need dealing with. Which is why the comments of Professer Nutt can best be described as unhelpful.
But alcohol also needs dealing with.
I support this. And I'm not quite sure how you can say that about being penalized; it stands to reason that the more you drink, the more you pay.
Although it is not quite a minimum price, I think the proposal to stop drink being sold below cost price is a good thing, 1 of the few good things being proposed by this government.”
by Mr. Sensible, The Real World
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 2:05PM
“I think this would be a good idea.
Ben, I am surprised you say that. The maths dictate that the more you drink, the more you pay.
I think this would be good for our pubs too; they would be able to compete more evenly with our supermarkets.
Accordingly, although not quite there, I support the proposals to prevent alcohol being sold below cost price; 1 of the few good things being done with this government.
BTW, it is good to see someone supporting ID cards. I think they are a necesary tool.”
by Andyman, Derbys
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 2:03PM
“Putting up the price will not help, but why is alcohol being blamed for so much in the first place when there are much more costly problems.
Drugs cause many more problems for the NHS, and are far more costly to the NHS and the wider public, these should be tackled first and this issue dealt with before alcohol is even considered.
Why should the majority of drinkers be penalised for a small minority, and you will find putting up the price to a minimum level is already illegal under competition legislation.”
by Ben Al Madena, Long Eaton
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 1:45PM
“Why should I pay more for my alcohol as a sensible drinker just because of others abuse of it?? What a joke.
If you want to target underage drinkers then bring in the ID cards that everyone is so set against. If they can't produce ID to verify their age then they can't buy it. Putting a minimum price on it won't help.”