Abstract
BackgroundA large-scale survey was conducted in 2008 in north west England, a region with high levels of alcohol-related harm, during a regional 'Big Drink Debate' campaign. The aim of this paper is to explore perceptions of how alcohol consumption would change if alcohol prices were to increase or decrease.MethodsA convenience survey of residents (≥ 18 years) of north west England measured demographics, income, alcohol consumption in previous week, and opinions on drinking behaviour under two pricing conditions: low prices and discounts and increased alcohol prices (either 'decrease', 'no change' or 'increase'). Multinomial logistic regression used three outcomes: 'completely elastic' (consider that lower prices increase drinking and higher prices decrease drinking); 'lower price elastic' (lower prices increase drinking, higher prices have no effect); and 'price inelastic' (no change for either).ResultsOf 22,780 drinkers surveyed, 80.3% considered lower alcohol prices and discounts would increase alcohol consumption, while 22.1% thought raising prices would decrease consumption, making lower price elasticity only (i.e. lower prices increase drinking, higher prices have no effect) the most common outcome (62%). Compared to a high income/high drinking category, the lightest drinkers with a low income (adjusted odds ratio AOR = 1.78, 95% confidence intervals CI 1.38-2.30) or medium income (AOR = 1.88, CI 1.47-2.41) were most likely to be lower price elastic. Females were more likely than males to be lower price elastic (65% vs 57%) while the reverse was true for complete elasticity (20% vs 26%, P < 0.001).ConclusionsLower pricing increases alcohol consumption, and the alcohol industry's continued focus on discounting sales encourages higher drinking levels. International evidence suggests increasing the price of alcohol reduces consumption, and one in five of the surveyed population agreed; more work is required to increase this agreement to achieve public support for policy change. Such policy should also recognise that alcohol is an addictive drug, and the population may be prepared to pay more to drink the amount they now feel they need.
Highlights
A large-scale survey was conducted in 2008 in north west England, a region with high levels of alcohol-related harm, during a regional ‘Big Drink Debate’ campaign
We addressed what respondents thought would be the effect of low prices and discounts and increased alcohol prices on ‘people’s alcohol use’, rather than their perceived impact on their own alcohol intake
The small proportion of non-drinkers suggest drinkers were more inclined to participate;[57] because this study focuses solely on the opinions of those who drink, the findings are not compromised
Summary
A large-scale survey was conducted in 2008 in north west England, a region with high levels of alcohol-related harm, during a regional ‘Big Drink Debate’ campaign. The aim of this paper is to explore perceptions of how alcohol consumption would change if alcohol prices were to increase or decrease. International research demonstrates that increasing the price of alcohol is one of the strongest interventions for reducing consumption and potential harm [2,3,4,5]. A meta-analysis of 112 studies demonstrated that for each beverage type, an increase in price was associated with a decrease in consumption [6]. Increasing the price of alcohol leads to reductions in alcohol harm (e.g. liver cirrhosis in the USA;[7] alcohol-related mortality and morbidity in Australia;[8] alcohol poisoning and public order offences in Ireland [9,10]). Tax cuts, which reduced the price of alcohol in Finland, were associated with increased alcohol-related mortality [11]. Despite this, the price of alcohol continues to decline in real terms in many European countries [12,13]
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