Alcohol Action Ireland is pleased to note the publication today of research in the Lancet from Public Health Scotland and the University of Glasgow on the impact of alcohol minimum unit pricing (MUP) on deaths and hospital admissions attributable to alcohol consumption in Scotland.
The research estimated a 13.4% reduction in deaths and a 4.1% reduction in hospital admissions, wholly attributable to alcohol consumption. The study also found that MUP reduced deaths and hospital admissions where alcohol consumption may be one of a range of causative factors. The findings cover the period from MUP implementation in May 2018 up to December 2020.
Full details of the study are available from Public Health Scotland here.
MUP was commenced in Ireland in January 2022. It is part of a suite of measures in the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 which aims to reduce Ireland’s alcohol use by 20% to the OECD average of 9.1 litres per capita.
The legislation is based on the World Health Organisation’s ‘best buys’ for alcohol policy – ie controls on price, marketing and availability.
We look forward to also seeing improved health outcomes in Ireland and urge the full implementation of the Act including restrictions on alcohol advertising such as the broadcast watershed, content of alcohol ads and labelling of alcohol products with health information.
There is no single measure which will solve all of Ireland’s alcohol problems but determined effort across the ‘best buys’ will reduce harm from alcohol in Ireland.
