Minimum price for booze ‘would cut illness toll’

The Sheffield Alcohol Research Group has produced a report which claims that setting a limit on how low prices can go could reduce alcohol consumption and have a significant effect on reducing alcohol-related harm.

The findings published yesterday by the Sheffield University researchers provide an analysis of what could happen if the Scottish Government imposed a minimum price on alcohol.

Academics found that setting a base price of 45p per unit of alcohol would cut the purchase of drinks in Scotland by six per cent, reduce hospital admissions by 6,600-a-year and save the NHS £22m annually.

They claim it would also cut crimes by 3,600 and violent offences by 540 a year. It would cut the number of day missed at work by 36,500, the report said.

Dr Yang Meng, from the university’s School of Health and Related Research, said: “The results continue to suggest minimum pricing can bring considerable health and social benefits and lead to significant financial savings.”