The BBC reports of brand new study conducted by Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS): The maximum recommended weekly intake of alcohol could be purchased for £2.52.
Alcohol Focus Scotland’s study analyzed the prices of cider, vodka, lager and wine in supermarkets and convenience stores in Glasgow and Edinburgh. AFS found that some types of alcohol could be bought for 18p per unit of alcohol. Especially cider was found to be extremely cheap, with regard to getting maximum alcohol for the cheapest price. For example, one three-litre bottle of cider, at 7.5% alcohol by volume, cost just £3.99.
The government’s chief medical officer recommends the maximum weekly intake of alcohol is 14 units for both men and women. At this price, the weekly limit would cost just £2.52. The cheapest products in each category were:
- Cider at 18p per unit
- Vodka at 36p per unit
- Lager at 26p per unit
- Wine at 32p per unit
Evidence shows that alcohol affordability, especially price, is a crucial tool to reduce consumption and related harms. Cheap alcohol is a public health hazard.
Scotland has been trying to implement a Minimum Unit Price to tackle the problem, but got legally challenged by the alcohol industry. AFS argues said legal challenges to the government’s policy over the past four years had “undoubtedly cost lives”.
