Minimum Unit Pricing is something else, and it’s been proven in Scotland that it doesn’t even reduce alcohol consumption, you’d almost think that the government wants more VAT rather than tackling problem drinking…
Minimum Unit Pricing is something else, and it’s been proven in Scotland that it doesn’t even reduce alcohol consumption, you’d almost think that the government wants more VAT rather than tackling problem drinking…
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Scotland proved [exactly the opposite](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(21)00052-9/fulltext)
> In Scotland…a purchase decrease of 7·063 g per adult per household per day that an alcohol purchase was made (6·656–7·470), a 7·7% decrease. In Wales…a purchase decrease of 7·052 g per adult per household per day that an alcohol purchase was made (6·463–7·640), an 8·6% decrease. For both Scotland and Wales, **reductions in overall purchases of alcohol were largely restricted to households that bought the most alcohol**. The introduction of MUP was **not associated with an increased expenditure on alcohol by households that generally bought small amounts of alcohol and, in particular, those with low incomes.**
What?
Scotland proved that it conclusively did reduce alcohol consumption.
I mean, yea sure the government always want’s more taxes. But the MUP was a proven thing.
I’m not really a fan of it, but they didn’t pick it up off the ground or anything.
Also, if the price of booze has that large an effect on you due to consumption quantity, you might just be exactly the type of person it was specifically aimed at.
It sure helped me get off drink entirely.
MUP does have an impact as much as people don’t like to admit it. At the extreme end of the scale it may only have a very limited impact as alcoholics are going to alcoholic regardless, but to pretend it does absolutely nothing is disingenuous.
I genuinely haven’t noticed much change.
Then again, i wasn’t drinking the cheapest piss I could get my hands on before it either.
cigarette smokers be like: first time
I’ve lived in 3 countries ( Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland). NL and BE bith are waaaay cheaper, and still Ireland has a higher consumption :
https://images.app.goo.gl/jjR1oA5q1je8GLof6
So, i don’t necessarily think pricing has anything to do with / will solve anything about the alcohol problem.
Don’t know what will, I’m not expert. But this just hurts a lot of people who just like a pint during the weekends (like me…)
It should have been the policy to get people on the streets and bring down the government.
Never have seen such a docile population take something so fundamentally damaging to our culture and identity like MUP. I’m only slightly exaggerating here.
See if the government had just said “Right lads drinking is bad for your health, we’re gonna increase VAT by 50% on them” I feel like it wouldn’t have had the same reaction as MUP. Anyone else?
What’s worse is that the additional cost isn’t even taxed !!!! So Tesco and Molloy’s basically just take in more revenue. If the government had introduced a fucking tax and spent it on families damaged through alcohol or any other alcohol related programme at least it would have been for something worthwhile. Fucking Kip
My personal opinion after some reading is that MUP is a very blunt instrument. It will bring down some figures, might help some people, but won’t help those people already addicted and will impacts in others areas that causes other problems. It would work better if they had other schemes run in conjunction to MUP. Carrot and stick type approach. It does mean non alcoholic beers are my go to for a night out for a while now. And whiskey when I
am drinking.
1. That isn’t true
2. Pints in pubs aren’t affected by the new law, they’re already above the threshold
Why are there so many alcohol ads on youtube/ spotify and other apps? Ban all alcohol ad’s like they did cigarettes!
Currently working in an off-licence and my big take from MUP is that it hasn’t stopped people from drinking but it has actually pushed people onto spirits! Like the alcoholics that were coming in daily and getting 16 cans of Dutch gold are now buying maybe 4 cans of Dutch and a shoulder of vodka! The prices on spirits didn’t really change much so they seem to think it’s better value
I remember visiting Romania a few years back and finding the alcohol pretty damn cheap. Like a euro or less for a beer in a pub.
Until I found out how much money people make there. With 250-350 being a decent months salary.
Then I noticed many homeless people sleeping rough who weren’t drinking but instead abusing solvents. Lads with oil based spray paint all around their mouth and nose in a rag. Lads were pretty manic and incredibly grim.
Honestly I remember when I first heard about MUP, thinking it might eventually push addicts in that level of desperation financially into the cheapest of highs. Solvents are fucking grim.
MUP in Scotland led directly to increased levels of drug use. There is a real chance that MUP has killed people. It’s got to be one of the most ridiculous and harmful policy that was about something “boring”.