Commenting on new alcohol statistics from the Health and Social Care Information Centre, Dr Nick Sheron, Royal College of Physicians advisor on alcohol, said:
It is extremely important that patients who are dependent on alcohol have access to drugs that can help them recover. However, the rise in prescriptions of drugs to treat alcohol dependency is indicative of the huge strain alcohol abuse puts on our society.
Today’s statistics show that in 2012, hospitals in England admitted 200,900 cases where the main reason for admission was an alcohol-related condition. The rise in alcohol addiction is being driven by cheap alcohol. A minimum unit price for alcohol would effectively tackle this problem.
In Canada, a 10% increase in minimum unit price caused a 32% reduction in deaths. Our own research in Southampton shows that a minimum unit price of 50p would, on average, cost patients with alcohol dependency and cirrhosis an additional £36 per week. The impact on moderate drinkers was less than 30p per week, because these patients simply do not drink the ultra-cheap, ultra-strong booze. Minimum unit pricing is targeted at very heavy drinkers whose families are devastated by the impact that drinking has on their lives.
Despite the evidence, the government recently went back on its commitment to introducing a minimum unit price, thanks largely to heavy lobbying from the drinks industry.
Three years ago, the House of Commons Health Committee stated that: 'The alcohol industry should not carry more weight in determining health policy than the chief medical officer.' Not much appears to have changed.
Access the new alcohol statistics from the Health and Social Care Information Centre
For further information, please contact Andrew McCracken, RCP communications and new media advisor, on +44 (0)203 075 1354 / 07990 745 608, or email andrew.mccracken@rcplondon.ac.uk