Press release: Public wants higher alcohol duties to save the NHS

• Ahead of the Autumn Budget, new research from Alcohol Change UK sees public confirm NHS priority and back action on alcohol harm
• Charity argues that Government can’t afford to miss the opportunity to address alcohol harm

Among the PM’s vow to overhaul the NHS and clamp down on junk food advertising, last week saw renewed attention on addressing alcohol harm as a key component of public health reform.

According to new research from Alcohol Change UK, policy action on alcohol is genuinely popular with voters. There is particular support (especially among Conservative to Labour swing voters) for increasing alcohol duty.

Shifting alcohol from the spotlight

• More than half (52%) of respondents agree that increasing alcohol duty until it covers the cost of alcohol-related harm would have a positive impact on the NHS
• 47% think increasing alcohol duty in the Budget would be the ’right priority’, rising to 54% who voted Conservative in 2019 and Labour in 2024
• 61% want to see a ban on alcohol marketing in places which could be seen by children, with just 11% opposed, rising to 77% of swing voters, with 6% opposed
• When asked if they would support or oppose certain measures, increasing alcohol duty was viewed as the 'right priority' (47% to 35%), alongside increases to corporation tax (54% to 24%) and capital gains tax (45% to 30%)
• Measures largely deemed as the ‘wrong priority' include increases to VAT (57% to 22%), income tax (55% to 26%), fuel duty (55% to 25%) and National Insurance (54% to 28%)
• Almost half (47%) support minimum unit pricing to prevent alcohol being sold at low prices – more than double those who oppose (23%) and rising to 55% for and 17% against of swing voters

Support for action on alcohol harm reflects the public’s position on the Government’s five ‘missions’. When asked which are most important, ‘Building an NHS fit for the future’ led the public’s wish-list by a clear majority, securing more support than the second and third favourites combined.

The public’s top three missions

1. Building an NHS fit for the future (44%)
2. Kickstarting economic growth (21%)
3. Taking back our streets (15%)

This new research strengthens Alcohol Change UK’s call for the Government to do more to address the harm caused by alcohol, which it argues will deliver significant societal and financial benefits, including easing the pressure on the NHS.

From poor sleep and high blood pressure to anxiety and cancer, alcohol harm affects millions of people at various levels of consumption. We can experience alcohol harm even when drinking below the Chief Medical Officer’s low risk drinking guidelines of 14 units (5-6 pints of beer) a week. What’s more, alcohol-related deaths are at an all-time high, while alcohol-related hospital admissions account for more than one in 20 of all admissions in England alone. According to The Institute of Alcohol Studies, this costs the NHS and healthcare system in England just shy of £5bn each year. Across the UK, alcohol-related harm is estimated to cost at least £33bn per annum.

Alcohol Change UK claims that urgent action will bring these figures down while putting public health and wellbeing above alcohol industry profits. Key to this is changes to alcohol duty in the Chancellor’s inaugural budget – a tax paid by companies that produce alcohol.

Increasing alcohol duty at 2% or 4% above inflation would raise billions over this Parliament, closing the alcohol harm deficit: the gap between the £33bn that the UK taxpayer spends on clearing up the mess of alcohol harm and the smaller income currently generated from alcohol producers to offset these costs.

Richard Piper, CEO at Alcohol Change UK, said:

“While the Government faces some difficult decisions, addressing alcohol harm in the Budget is a powerful opportunity that’s popular with voters.

“Alcohol harm affects all of us, yet we’re currently spending billions more on dealing with this than we see back in duty. Reintroducing Labour’s duty escalator at 2% or 4% above inflation would raise billions and start levelling the playing field – putting public health and wellbeing above the profits of alcohol producers, largely dominated by massive companies based overseas.

“Our poll shows that people are connecting the dots, with the vast majority not only wanting to protect our NHS but recognising that changes to alcohol duty are part of the solution.”

Over half (52%) of respondents believe that increasing alcohol duty until it covers the cost of alcohol-related harm would have a positive impact on the NHS. When asked if they would support or oppose certain measures, increasing alcohol duty was viewed as the 'right priority' (47% to 35%), alongside increases to corporation tax (54% to 24%) and capital gains tax (45% to 30%). Measures largely deemed as the ‘wrong priority' include increases to VAT (57% to 22%), income tax (55% to 26%), fuel duty (55% to 25%) and National Insurance (54% to 28%).

The research also confirmed strong public support for wider measures to tackle alcohol harm in the UK, including:

• Compulsory labels on alcoholic drinks about calories and ingredients (59%)
• Compulsory labels on alcoholic drinks about health risks (57%)
• Protecting funding for alcohol and drug treatment services (52%)
• Increasing the level of duty on cider to the same level as beer (51%)
• A minimum unit price on alcohol, to prevent alcohol being sold at low prices (47%)

Piper added:

“Right now, the system works against us. From the relentless advertising we're exposed to when going about our lives, to how alcohol is priced, labelled and made available, our environment encourages us to drink more while failing to tell us the truth about what we're consuming and how this is impacting our health.

“Reintroducing Labour’s duty escalator is not a silver bullet but a great place to start. One step further would be to look at duty and minimum unit pricing together. This starts to form a compelling package for revenue raising and targeted intervention, one that paves the way for further action about how alcohol is promoted and regulated.

“Led by the Health Mission Board, voters will see clear results on issues important to them over the long-term, including the NHS and life expectancy, safer streets and productivity.”

Ends

About the poll

The survey was carried out online by Savanta on behalf of Alcohol Change UK between 6-8th September 2024. It interviewed 2,028 UK adults aged 18+ online and is weighted to be representative of the UK by age, sex, region, and social grade.

About Alcohol Change UK

Alcohol Change UK works for a world free from alcohol harm. We fund, commission and share research; provide information and advice; work to ensure more and better support and treatment; encourage better policy and regulation; shift drinking cultures through our campaigns; and work to change drinking behaviours.

Alcohol Change UK’s policy and advocacy work focuses on delivering strong, evidence-based change to reduce the serious harm caused by alcohol and make a positive difference to the millions of people who are affected. Working closely with policy-makers and MPs, we seek to make ending alcohol harm a priority. This looks like calling for lasting policies which protect our health and fix a system which is not adequately addressing the numerous and diverse harms alcohol causes our society. Change is possible, and here's a reminder of what we’d like to see:

• Create an environment which prevents alcohol harm
• End stigma and recognise the complexity of alcohol harm
• Ensure everyone can access support and treatment

Read our full manifesto asks for the future of alcohol harm