DR DAVID BAILEY

COLUMNIST

I RECENTLY had the opportunity to give evidence on behalf of BMA Cymru Wales to the National Assembly’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee in support of the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill.

If passed, the Bill will give the Welsh Government the power to impose a Minimum Unit Price – currently expected to be 50p – on alcohol.

The misuse of alcohol is a major preventative public health concern.

According to the World Health Organisation, alcohol misuse contributes to 3.3 million deaths annually worldwide.

The latest data for Wales shows that there were 463 alcohol-related deaths in 2015.

Alcohol is a normal part of life for many in the UK and is heavily marketed as an established part of modern society.

As doctors, we see first-hand the significant harm alcohol misuse causes our patients and their families.

I am pleased to see that the Welsh Government is following in the footsteps of the Scottish Government in introducing this legislation. It is always pleasing to see the Celtic nations leading the way with groundbreaking legislation. I hope that the UK Government decides to follow suit.

One of the main arguments against this Bill is that it will disproportionately target those drinkers who are in poverty.

This is simply not the case. Minimum Unit Pricing (or MUP) has been shown to be a targeted measure at those who drink to significant harm.

Alcohol abuse, of course, contributes to making you poor. It breaks up families, increases homelessness and its social impact on families and crime is also extremely negative.

Another argument that has recently been raised is that those who will be impacted by this Bill will turn to other substances such as the street drug “Spice” (a synthetic cannabinoid) because alcohol will become too expensive. Spice isn’t as cheap as people think it is. Recent evidence has shown that a “bunch” of spice is £20 in Manchester and £35 in London.

It certainly doesn’t compare to 50p at all. I believe that this argument has been put forward by the alcohol industry.

Introducing MUP is hugely significant and will help to reduce the number of people who abuse alcohol.

But MUP alone isn’t the answer. There is no evidence to suggest that problem drinkers are reducing their consumption, so the Bill needs to be part of a suite of actions that need to be taken to combat alcohol misuse, such as funding specialist alcohol treatment services.

These services should also allow patients to refer themselves for treatment. As doctors, we know that there is often only a short window in which we can treat patients and prevent further harm – waiting for a scarce specialist treatment programme may miss this window, so the services need to be more readily available.

Alcohol is relatively much, much cheaper than it was 20 years ago and this Bill is about restoring some of that balance.

I hope that Assembly Members vote in favour for the sake of the nation’s health.

Dr David Bailey is chairman of the British Medical Association’s Welsh Council.