Availability ‘increases problem drinking’

The likelihood of people on the lowest incomes drinking too much increases in line with the availability of alcohol in their area, according to a study.

Researchers from the universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow studied the links between alcohol consumption and income in Scotland, and found that the country’s poorest people are disproportionately affected by the availability of alcohol in their neighbourhood.

The amount of drink consumed by those on the highest incomes in Scotland is far less affected by the number of outlets near their homes, the findings suggest.

The experts have called for “radical” policy changes and said moves to tackle dangerous drinking which focus solely on consumer behaviour may not go far enough.