Health group’s call over alcohol prices

Health campaigners in the North East is calling for tighter alcohol price controls after new evidence emerged that higher costs drive down drink-related deaths.

Balance, the region’ s alcohol prevention programme, is seeking ‘minimum unit price’ system in England after a project in Scotland resulted in a 13% drop in the number of deaths from alcohol consumption, andhundredsfewer hospitalisations.

Balance says the findings provide more evidence that cheap alcohol fuels death and illness and raising the price saves lives.

It says that a minimum unit price policy in England would have the potential for similar results - particularly in the North East, where alcohol-related illnesses are at similar levels to Scotland.

Susan Taylor, head of alcohol policy at Balance, said: “This study gives us yet more evidence that cheap alcohol fuels illness and death and raising the price of the cheapest, strongest alcohol saves lives.

“It is still possible to drink over a week’ s worth of alcohol for less than a fiver, fuelling alcohol problems that affect hospitals, police forces and our economy.

“The potential for minimum unit pricing in England would have a significant impact on health in the North East where nearly half of adults are drinking above the guidelines and we are calling on the Government for evidence-based action to save lives, reduce hospital admissions and help our economy.”

Balance data shows 47% of adults in the North East are drinking at levels above the“low risk” guidelines-increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke and at least seven types of cancer.