News
Scientists hit back at drinks industry criticisms of research on minimum pricing
Scientists have today spoken out against criticisms from
the drinks industry of research on the effects of minimum pricing.
Writing in an open letter published in the journal Addiction,
leading researchers have called to set the record straight on the
relationship found between increased minimum prices for alcohol and
reductions in alcohol related deaths in Canada.
The letter is written by the authors of a study
published last month led by Professor Tim Stockwell, from the Centre
for Addictions Research at Victoria University, British Colombia. The
study found that a 10% average increase in the minimum price of alcohol
was associated with a 32% reduction in wholly alcohol related deaths.
However, organisations representing the global alcohol producers have openly criticized this research, claiming it contains inaccuracies, which could be misleading
Lead author Tim Stockwell said on behalf of the research team:
"There have been some serious misrepresentations of our
research and we are glad of the opportunity set the record straight. The
new figure released in the journal Addiction today makes the strong
negative relationship between minimum alcohol prices and deaths caused
by alcohol in British Columbia much clearer."
These industry criticisms form part of a major campaign
as the global alcohol producers build opposition to the introduction of
minimum unit pricing in the UK. The University of Sheffield Alcohol
Research Group has faced similar criticisms from drinks industry funded
bodies, and recently published a rebuttal to those accusations on their website.
Katherine Brown, Director of Policy at the Institute of Alcohol Studies says:
“It is essential that the evidence to support minimum
pricing is communicated in a fair and transparent manner. This is a
policy that has a broad support base, including doctors, police and
emergency services – people who work to mop up the mess caused by
excessive consumption.
“Minimum pricing is a targeted policy that will tackle the
problems caused by the cheapest alcohol consumed by harmful and heavy
drinkers. There is good evidence to suggest it will make a real
difference to the number of alcohol related deaths, crimes and hospital
admissions, whilst having little impact on moderate drinkers.”
For more information contact Katherine Brown on 020 7222 4001 kbrown@ias.org.uk