Scotland’s controversial price floor policy has been linked to a 13 per cent drop in alcohol-related deaths.
New research suggests that 156 deaths a year in Scotland may have been prevented by the price change.
The study looked at deaths caused specifically by alcohol.
However, critics have questioned the findings, warning that there is no evidence that the drop in deaths following the introduction of MUP was directly caused by the directive.
MUP, which was introduced in Scotland in May 2018, raised the price of the cheapest and strongest drink, such as strong lager and cider, to at least 50p per unit to reduce consumption by the heaviest drinkers.
New research suggests that 156 deaths a year in Scotland may have been prevented by the price change. Pictured: Alcohol for sale at a liquor store in Edinburgh
Since then, studies have had mixed results, including a drop in alcohol sales, but no clear evidence of changing the habits of people with alcohol dependence, and worryingly, some heavy drinkers are spending less on groceries and bills to pay for alcohol.
The latest study shows that the number of deaths directly caused by alcohol consumption in the first two years and eight months after the directive was introduced fell “significantly” by 13.4 per cent compared to an estimate based on data from England, the number of deaths that would have occurred if the law had not been enacted.
This includes deaths from conditions such as alcohol-related liver disease and acute poisoning.
Hospitalizations for direct alcohol-related illnesses decreased by 4.1 percent, avoiding an average of 411 hospitalizations per year.
The study, published in The Lancet, was carried out by researchers from Public Health Scotland, the University of Glasgow and the University of Queensland, Australia.
DR Grant Wyper, Public Health Adviser at PHS, said: “The results show that the biggest declines were seen in men and in those living in the 40 per cent of the most deprived areas, groups known to consume alcohol disproportionately. health problems in Scotland.
“We know that people living in the socio-economically disadvantaged areas of Scotland have more than five times higher alcohol-related death rates than people living in the least deprived areas.
“So the results released today are very encouraging in addressing this disparity and the overall scale of preventable harm that affects far too many people.”
However, the researchers found that MUP was associated with an increase in deaths and hospitalizations due to short-term conditions caused by alcohol use, such as: B. alcohol poisoning, although these results would not be statistically significant.
One reason could be that due to the financial burden of the implemented measures, some people reduced their spending on groceries or reduced their food intake, which could have led to faster intoxication or drunkenness.
The report’s authors acknowledged that there were impacts on hospital capacity and attendance during the pandemic, adding to the uncertainty of study data related to hospital admissions.
However, some experts have doubts about the results.
Kevin McConway, emeritus professor of applied statistics at the Open University, said it is theoretically possible that the drop in deaths was caused by factors other than MUP, such as: B. the reduced consumption in the years before politics.
He said: “This is an observational study and no matter how well other factors are controlled, it can never conclusively prove that the observed changes in mortality are due to floor price policy.
“Overall, in my opinion, some doubt remains whether MUP is definitely at the root of the change in alcohol consumption and therefore the reduction in mortality.”
DR Adam Jacobs, Senior Director for Biostatistical Sciences at Premier Research, said: “There may be some uncertainty about which deaths are solely attributable to alcohol use and the paper would be more compelling to me if there were statistics on deaths by all causes would be present.
It is important to note that the decline in hospital admissions did not reach conventional levels of statistical significance.
“It is plausible that the MUP policy will reduce alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations, but I don’t think this paper shows that convincingly.”
Scottish Health Minister Maree Todd said: “I am delighted with these results, which underline the value of our industry-leading minimum pricing policy, which has helped push alcohol sales to an all-time low.
“We are committed to doing everything we can to reduce alcohol-related harm, one of the most pressing public health challenges facing Scotland.”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
