Alcohol levy ‘could raise £57m’ for treatment

A levy on retail outlets selling alcohol could raise £57 million to be spent on local treatment, recovery support and prevention, a think tank has claimed.

Research from the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde has shown money raised on off-sales alcohol could provide much-needed funding for supporting people with alcohol problems.

The research, commissioned by Alcohol Focus Scotland, suggests revenue from alcohol has increased by more than £30 million per year across 2018 and 2019.

Alcohol off sales did, however, decrease by 3.6 per cent in the first year of minimum unit pricing, which was implemented in May 2018, according to figures from Public Health Scotland.

Alison Douglas, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland said: “Alcohol Focus Scotland has been campaigning for some time for the additional money from minimum unit pricing, which currently goes straight into the pockets of shops and supermarkets, to go back into the public purse.

“The Scottish Government has recognised the increasing number of deaths from alcohol – up by 25 per cent in the last three years – as a public health emergency, but to tackle this issue needs appropriate funding.

“By redirecting some of this additional money, we can relieve the pressures that our health and social care services are experiencing and address the 40 per cent decline in people accessing specialist alcohol treatment over the past decade.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government is determined to do all we can to reduce alcohol-related harm and is working closely with alcohol and drug partnerships and the third sector to do so.”