Cheshire & Merseyside local authorities have endorsed recommendations to set a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol.
Cheshire & Warrington Health and Wellbeing Commission and the Liverpool City Region Safer Healthier Communities Board, (who are working to reduce alcohol harm across the sub-region) has received approval from the sub-regional leadership Boards to progress the consultations and engagement with individual councils and members of the public regarding minimum pricing.
The local authorities are working with colleagues in Greater Manchester and “Our Life” to ensure a co-ordinated approach for minimum unit pricing is taken across the region and to explore further options of implementing a bylaw.
The consultations and engagement with members of the public will include proactive focus groups as well as a research project with young people, and the results will provide information to help inform future strategies for minimum pricing.
A recent study has shown that a nationwide minimum of 50p per unit of alcohol would prevent 98,000 hospital admissions and 46,000 crimes related to alcohol. It is also estimated that it will save 300,000 days of workplace absence which are currently linked to alcohol.
Erika Wenzel, Chief Executive of Cheshire East Council and Lead Officer of the Cheshire & Warrington Health & Wellbeing Commission said “45%* of all violent crime is alcohol related, we cannot continue with the high levels of alcohol harm in our communities and we are working with colleagues in the North West to take action to reduce it.”
Cllr Andrew Knowles, Chair of the Cheshire & Warrington Health & Wellbeing Commission and Cheshire East’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, added: “We believe this co-ordinated approach towards minimum pricing could bring about real health and social benefits to our region as well as impact on the levels of violent crime.”
Charlie Barker, Lead Officer for the Liverpool City Region Safer Healthier Communities Board said “Evidence shows that we are taking the right approach to reducing alcohol harm through minimum pricing. Too many lives are blighted by alcohol harm whether it impacts on our health service, the police or local authorities. We are particularly concerned about the effect on young children who can buy alcohol at pocket money prices”.
The impact of minimum pricing on moderate drinkers will be small, costing them around £1 extra per month and it is estimated that heavy drinkers would consume 10% less alcohol.**
Julie Webster, Lead Director of Public Health for Alcohol from Cheshire & Merseyside Public Health Network (ChaMPs) states ‘In Cheshire & Merseyside, applying a 50p per unit of alcohol would have a greater impact on heavy and younger drinkers as these are the groups who traditionally buy cheap alcohol. A minimum price could reduce hospital admissions in Cheshire & Merseyside by 7,000 resulting in savings of around £2million.’
*Crime in England & Wales 2007/2008, findings from British Crime Survey and Police recorded crime, July 2008
**Sheffield University ScHARR study, 2008
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