Policy responses and statements
- Name of organisation:
- Department of Social Development
- Name of policy document:
- Minimum unit pricing of alcohol
- Deadline for response:
- 26 June 2011
Background: This survey forms part of the stakeholder
consultation process on minimum pricing of alcohol in Northern Ireland
and provided an opportunity for comment on plans to crack down on the
availability of cheap alcohol.
A number of key questions on the introduction of pricing interventions
which which are intended to tackle problems associated with the availability
of cheap alcohol in Northern Ireland have been developed.
These include questions on:
- the introduction of a minimum price per unit of alcohol;
- banning or below-cost selling of alcohol;
- banning sale of alcohol below level of Duty and VAT; and
- increasing taxation to address the harms of problem drinking.
A number of key questions in relation to a proposal to introduce a
social responsibility levy have also been identified.
The Department of Social Development was keen to hear views on the
proposals from everyone including consumers of alcohol, trade associations,
criminal justice workers or those who run or work in pubs, clubs, supermarkets
or other outlets selling alcohol.
COMMENTS ON
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINIMUM UNIT PRICING OF ALCOHOL
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) welcomes the opportunity
to respond to this consultation on behalf of our Fellows and Members
in Northern Ireland. Scotland has very similar challenges with
regard to excessive consumption of alcohol, and the College is a founding
member of the Scottish Heath Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) which
aims to influence public health policy through raising awareness of
the dangers of excessive consumption. SHAAP has been at the forefront
of College efforts to achieve legislation on minimum pricing in Scotland.
Further information on the work of SHAAP is available at http://www.shaap.org.uk/.
The level of alcohol related harm is directly linked to the level
of per-capita consumption, and one means of reducing this harm is to
make alcohol less affordable. This College and SHAAP support
the conclusions of this consultation. The arguments adopted parallel
those advanced by RCPE and SHAAP in advocating a minimum pricing as
part of the Alcohol Bill in Scotland. More detailed discussion
of minimum pricing is available in the SHAAP publication “Getting
the Price of alcohol Right” (October 2010).
Comments on the consultation questions follow:
To what extent would you agree with the introduction of
minimum pricing per unit of alcohol into Northern Ireland?'
The College supports the call in Scotland for minimum pricing and
believes this could have a similar positive impact in Northern Ireland.
To what extent do you agree with the proposed principles
on which a minimum pricing scheme for alcohol products may be established?
The College agrees that these are sensible principles for a minimum
pricing scheme.
To what extent would you agree with the banning of below
cost sales in Northern Ireland?
The College believes that, from a health perspective, the benefit
would be limited or absent, and understands that a ban would also bring
significant implementation difficulties.
To what extent would you agree with a ban on the sale
of alcohol below the rate of duty plus VAT in Northern Ireland?
See above - the health benefit would be limited and this measure
would be ineffective in isolation. However, the principle of
controlling inappropriately low sales prices is to be supported.
To what extent would you agree that increasing taxation
(a matter for UK Government and not the Northern Ireland Assembly)
should be used to address the harms of problem drinking?
The College believes that increasing taxation, although attractive
in terms of revenue to the exchequer (rather than increased industry
profits), is a blunt instrument if used in isolation; it increases
prices across the board rather than targeting inappropriately cheap
brands. Also, there is no guarantee that increases in taxation
will flow through to retail prices. Taxation increases used with
a minimum pricing policy will be more effective at limiting consumption
for those at risk.
To what extent would you agree with the introduction of
a social responsibility levy in Northern Ireland?
The imposition of a social responsibility levy to offset some of the
costs of alcohol related damage in the community is a commendable aim
which probably requires further research and consultation before it
can be implemented in an equitable and effective way.
Copies of this response are available from:
Lesley Lockhart,
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh,
9 Queen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1JQ.
Tel: 0131 225 7324 ext 608
Fax: 0131 220 3939
[30 May 2011]
|
