Alcohol Consumption and Pricing in Edinburgh's Ill Drinkers
Author Information
Author(s): Heather Gill, Jan Chick, Jonathan Chick
Primary Institution: Queen Margaret University
Hypothesis
To compare alcohol purchasing and consumption by ill drinkers in Edinburgh with wider alcohol sales in Scotland.
Conclusion
Patients with serious alcohol problems tend to purchase very cheap alcohol, and eliminating the cheapest sales might reduce their consumption.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients consumed a mean of 197.7 UK units/week.
- 70.3% of units consumed were sold at or below £0.40/unit.
- 83% of units were sold at or below £0.50/unit.
Takeaway
People who drink a lot of alcohol in Edinburgh often buy the cheapest drinks, and if those cheap options are taken away, they might drink less.
Methodology
Interviews were conducted with patients at two hospitals in Edinburgh about their alcohol consumption over the past week.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-reported data and exclusion of certain demographics.
Limitations
The study does not represent all harmful drinkers in Scotland, as it excluded those too ill to participate and those under 16 years old.
Participant Demographics
377 patients, 256 men (67.9%) and 121 women (32.1%), mean age 47 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Confidence Interval
95% CI 184.8–210.7
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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