United Kingdom: Increased alcohol prices don’t put off UK drinkers

FoodBev Media

September 21, 2016

A recent survey has discovered that UK consumers are not put off by increased alcohol prices.

According to the British social attitudes survey report nearly 65% say that the price of alcohol does not stop them buying as much alcohol as they would like.

Alcohol information partnership director general Dave Roberts said: “We welcome the findings published by public health England from the British social attitudes Survey. This report commissioned by public health England demonstrates that the idea of increasing the price of alcohol as a means to reduce harmful drinking is seen as unfair on sensible drinkers and is unlikely to be effective.

“Sensible drinkers in Britain have truthfully stated that the price of a drink does not determine the amount they drink.”

In addition the report finds that increasing risk drinkers are also the least likely to think that minimum unit pricing will reduce heavy drinking and that 52% of respondents believed that such a policy would be unfair on sensible drinkers .

“The serious issue of problem and harmful drinking is best tackled by education, awareness and partnership working between the public authorities,” Roberts added. “The drinks industry, retailers and licensees. It is through these partnerships that over the past decade we have seen a reduction in under-age drinking and a fall in binge drinking.”