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Evaluation of Minimum Unit Pricing of Alcohol: A Mixed Method Natural Experiment in Scotland

Author

Listed:
  • Clare Beeston

    (Place and Wellbeing Directorate Public Health Scotland, Glasgow G2 6QP, UK)

  • Mark Robinson

    (Institute for Social Science Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4068, Australia)

  • Lucie Giles

    (Place and Wellbeing Directorate Public Health Scotland, Glasgow G2 6QP, UK)

  • Elinor Dickie

    (Place and Wellbeing Directorate Public Health Scotland, Glasgow G2 6QP, UK)

  • Jane Ford

    (Place and Wellbeing Directorate Public Health Scotland, Glasgow G2 6QP, UK)

  • Megan MacPherson

    (Public Health, NHS Grampian, Aberdeen AB15 6RE, UK)

  • Rachel McAdams

    (Place and Wellbeing Directorate Public Health Scotland, Glasgow G2 6QP, UK)

  • Ruth Mellor

    (Public Health, NHS Lanarkshire, Glasgow G71 8BB, UK)

  • Deborah Shipton

    (Place and Wellbeing Directorate Public Health Scotland, Glasgow G2 6QP, UK)

  • Neil Craig

    (Place and Wellbeing Directorate Public Health Scotland, Glasgow G2 6QP, UK)

Abstract

In May 2018, Scotland became the first country in the world to implement minimum unit pricing (MUP) for all alcoholic drinks sold in licensed premises in Scotland. The use of a Sunset Clause in the MUP legislation was a factor in successfully resisting legal challenges by indicating that the final decision on a novel policy would depend on its impact. An overarching evaluation has been designed and the results will provide important evidence to inform the parliamentary vote on the future of MUP in Scotland. The evaluation uses a mixed methods portfolio of in-house, commissioned, and separately funded studies to assess the impact of MUP across multiple intended and unintended outcomes related to compliance, the alcoholic drinks industry, consumption, and health and social harms. Quantitative studies to measure impact use a suitable control where feasible. Qualitative studies assess impact and provide an understanding of the lived experience and mechanism of change for key sub-groups. As well as providing important evidence to inform the parliamentary vote, adding to the international evidence on impact and experience of alcohol pricing policy across a broad range of outcomes, this approach to evaluating novel policy interventions may provide guidance for future policy innovations.

Suggested Citation

  • Clare Beeston & Mark Robinson & Lucie Giles & Elinor Dickie & Jane Ford & Megan MacPherson & Rachel McAdams & Ruth Mellor & Deborah Shipton & Neil Craig, 2020. "Evaluation of Minimum Unit Pricing of Alcohol: A Mixed Method Natural Experiment in Scotland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-12, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:10:p:3394-:d:357479
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stockwell, T. & Zhao, J. & Martin, G. & Macdonald, S. & Vallance, K. & Treno, A. & Ponicki, W. & Tu, A. & Buxton, J., 2013. "Minimum alcohol prices and outlet densities in British Columbia, Canada: Estimated impacts on alcohol-attributable hospital admissions," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(11), pages 2014-2020.
    2. Robert Pryce & Bruce Hollingsworth & Ian Walker, 2019. "Alcohol quantity and quality price elasticities: quantile regression estimates," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 20(3), pages 439-454, April.
    3. Stockwell, T. & Zhao, J. & Giesbrecht, N. & Macdonald, S. & Thomas, G. & Wettlaufer, A., 2012. "The raising of minimum alcohol prices in Saskatchewan, Canada: Impacts on consumption and implications for public health," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(12), pages 103-110.
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    1. Charles D. H. Parry & Niamh Fitzgerald, 2020. "Special Issue: Alcohol Policy and Public Health—Contributing to the Global Debate on Accelerating Action on Alcohol," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-7, May.

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