Heavy drinkers are paying just 34p for a unit of alcohol — primarily from supermarkets — a new study has revealed.
The study of 377 people, all of whom were undergoing treatment for alcohol problems, was carried out by the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and suggested that a minimum price would be "likely" to cut problems among heavy drinkers.
It found that most bought their alcohol in the off-trade, paying an average of 34p a unit. Around 70% of the alcohol drunk by patients was sold at or below the price of 40p a unit — the minimum price the Scottish National Party (SNP) is in favour of. The average unit price paid in Scotland as a whole is 72p.
The report said that vodka was the most popular drink but white cider was also very accessible along with whisky.
"Because the average unit price paid by these chronically-ill patients was considerably lower than the rest of the Scottish population, it is likely that eliminating the cheapest alcohol sales by minimum pricing will result in reduced overall consumption by this group of drinkers with a fairly immediate reduction in serious alcohol-related illnesses in our community," said one of the report's authors Dr Jonathan Chick.
The SNP welcomed the report. "With the majority of alcohol drunk by those with serious problems available for less than 40p per unit there can be no denying the important impact minimum pricing could have on Scotland's health," said Health Committee member Michael Matheson.
"That white cider is available at 15p per unit is a damning indictment of current pricing policy.
"The majority of alcohol consumed by people in this study was bought for less than 40p per unit from supermarkets and off licences, when the average price per unit across both on and off-sales in Scotland is over 70p.
"Minimum pricing will have an impact where it matters most — in reducing the availability of the pocket money priced alcohol that causes much of the health and social harm."
EC ruling
Meanwhile, the SNP also responded to news two weeks ago that the European Commission had ruled against setting a minimum price on tobacco in Ireland, Austria and France.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:"It is entirely inappropriate and irrelevant to translate an opinion on tobacco to the totally different issue of minimum pricing of alcoholic products per unit of alcohol for public health reasons.
"We are well aware of these cases, and the relevant Directive is specifically about the excise duty on manufactured tobacco and has nothing to do with alcohol products.
"In fact, the European Commission has already said that Community legislation does not prohibit minimum pricing for alcohol on public health grounds.
"Obviously, we rely on our own legal advice to progress this policy which is fair, proportionate and necessary to protect public health in Scotland."