News

The Welsh Government has confirmed that it will ask the National Assembly for Wales to approve a Minimum Unit Price (MUP) of 50p later this year.  This followed a consultation on introducing MUP in Wales in 2017 and, having confirmed its intention, a further consultation on the initial level the MUP should be set, held at the end of 2018.  In response, QAAD called for a higher level of MUP than the 50p being recommended:

‘We would like to recommend an MUP for Wales of no less than 60p. The principle of MUP is to contribute to reductions in the consumption of the cheapest, high strength drinks favoured primarily by harmful drinkers. However, setting the MUP at this higher level would strengthen the message that the Welsh Government is determined to prevent alcohol related harms, and to address strenuously their immediate and longer-term impact, whatever people’s current levels of drinking may be…When MUP is implemented in 2019, it will be six years since 50p was first suggested by the Welsh Government. Over that time, inflation has narrowed the range of drinks sold under this unit price, and this will continue following implementation. Setting the MUP at 60p or above will help to maintain this impact over a longer period, prior to the first internal review in 2021.’

The Irish government is currently considering setting an MUP of 70p, whilst a 50p initial MUP was introduced in Scotland in 2018.  To read QAAD’s full response to both consultations, please follow the links below.

What is our perspective as Quakers?

QAAD approaches public issues on alcohol from the evidence base, and from our values as Quakers.  Evidence tells us that some groups, and some people, are more vulnerable to developing alcohol problems than others – mainly because of social or personal factors.  However, there is also considerable evidence that the affordability of alcohol, its availability, and cultural attitudes each have a bearing on how widespread alcohol problems become. Inequalities in society also have a bearing. For QAAD, addressing these factors links with our Quaker witness of responding to ‘that of God in everyone’ and our belief in the importance of community and connectedness.  For us, this translates into the following measures:

Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol (MUP)

The affordability of alcohol has dropped significantly relative to income in the last thirty years, whilst alcohol-related health problems have risen.  The Chief Medical Officer, Royal College of Physicians, Alcohol Concern and many health bodies that have united in the Alcohol Health Alliance, have all concluded that an MUP would be one of the most effective ways of reducing harm.  We accept this evidence and support minimum unit pricing.  We hope that the Westminster government will follow Scotland’s and Wales’ examples and put this into law.

A ‘public health’ objective in the Alcohol Licensing Act of 2003

We would like to see the Westminster government adopt ‘promoting and improving public health’ as one of the objectives of the Alcohol Licensing Act.  Scotland has already done this.

In practical terms, it means, for example, that local licensing authorities can take health effects into account when they are considering the number and nature of licensing applications and it gives them influence on how premises are managed. More broadly, it means that reducing the health problems caused by alcohol would become more fully integrated into national policy.

Reducing the permitted blood alcohol limit for drivers

The UK has one of the highest permitted levels of alcohol in Europe at 80 mg for every 100 millilitres of blood.  Once again, Scotland has led the way by reducing this to 50mg, thus bringing it in line with EU recommendations and the limit in most of Europe.

The NICE report of 2010 estimated that drivers with a BAC of between 50 and 80 mg have a six fold increase in risk of dying in a vehicle crash compared with drivers who had consumed no alcohol. Adopting the 50 mg would further reduce the casualty and fatality figures from drink drive accidents that have been achieved over the years.

Mandatory labelling

We have argued for mandatory labelling rather than the current voluntary arrangements, in order to ensure that clear, legible information on the ingredients and the units contained in all forms of alcohol are available.  Health-based brief advice could be part of this.

Appropriate Support and Treatment for those who need it

Alcohol has been relatively poorly resourced in comparison with other drugs and we believe this balance should be corrected, including through the provision of support for close others and children. We have also suggested that the spiritual dimension of dependency treatment be more widely addressed and welcome the fact that this is beginning to happen.

QAAD’s submissions

When the opportunity arises to make representations on these subjects through public consultations, QAAD has done so.  Our briefing on Minimum Unit Pricing from 2012 sets out the issues and the evidence-base from which we have worked.

QAAD makes submissions as a Listed Informal Group of the Religious Society of Friends.  These are rooted in our Quaker values, but we do not speak for the Religious Society of Friends as a whole.

Click here for QAAD’s response to the Welsh Government’s consultation on the initial level for the Minimum Unit Price for Alcohol in Wales (December 2018)

Click here for QAAD’s response to the Welsh Government’s consultation on introducing Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol in Wales (December 2017)

Click here for QAAD’s briefing on Minimum Unit Pricing (2012)