Cheaper booze isn't the answer to reducing alcohol harm
This had no effect on prices in Wales' pubs, which were already well above these levels. Where it made a real difference was in shops. It got rid of big bottles of super-strength cider from the shelves; removed many of the cheapest spirits from sale; and made it more difficult for supermarkets to offer multi-buy discounts, such as three bottles of wine for the price of two.
Yet, MUP doesn't solve alcohol problems on its own. To do that, we must make sure we have services in place that can reach the most vulnerable drinkers and support them into recovery.
That includes those who report going without food in order to afford alcohol; not by making alcohol cheaper, but by improving their access to food and wider support. That's why Alcohol Change UK worked with Barod and the Nelson Trust to develop the Feeding Recovery Handbook, setting out practical ways that local services can help people with alcohol issues to eat more and better food.
We all know that inflation rates have been high over the last few years. MUP has been in force in Wales for just over five years, and the original 50p level has not kept up with price increases. For MUP to do in 2025 what it was doing in 2020, it needs to rise from 50p to 65p, as has already happened in Scotland. This will allow the measure to carry on keeping the cheapest, strongest drinks out of the shops, whilst still not penalising pubs.
Yours faithfully,
Andrew Misell,
Director for Wales, Alcohol Change UK
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South Wales Argus
01-08-2025
- South Wales Argus
Cheaper booze isn't the answer to reducing alcohol harm
First introduced in Wales in 2020, MUP ensures that one unit of alcohol – 10ml of pure alcohol – cannot be sold for less than 50p. This means an average bottle of wine – around 10 units of alcohol – must be priced no lower than £5 and a pint of beer or cider – about 2½ units – at least £1.25. This had no effect on prices in Wales' pubs, which were already well above these levels. Where it made a real difference was in shops. It got rid of big bottles of super-strength cider from the shelves; removed many of the cheapest spirits from sale; and made it more difficult for supermarkets to offer multi-buy discounts, such as three bottles of wine for the price of two. Yet, MUP doesn't solve alcohol problems on its own. To do that, we must make sure we have services in place that can reach the most vulnerable drinkers and support them into recovery. That includes those who report going without food in order to afford alcohol; not by making alcohol cheaper, but by improving their access to food and wider support. That's why Alcohol Change UK worked with Barod and the Nelson Trust to develop the Feeding Recovery Handbook, setting out practical ways that local services can help people with alcohol issues to eat more and better food. We all know that inflation rates have been high over the last few years. MUP has been in force in Wales for just over five years, and the original 50p level has not kept up with price increases. For MUP to do in 2025 what it was doing in 2020, it needs to rise from 50p to 65p, as has already happened in Scotland. This will allow the measure to carry on keeping the cheapest, strongest drinks out of the shops, whilst still not penalising pubs. Yours faithfully, Andrew Misell, Director for Wales, Alcohol Change UK
The Guardian
07-06-2025
- The Guardian
UK supermarkets exploit tax loophole to produce cider at ‘pocket-money prices'
Supermarkets such as Tesco, Aldi and Lidl are exploiting a tax loophole to produce and sell cheap cider that harms health and causes social problems, alcohol campaigners have claimed. Over recent years, ciders – sometimes containing as much as 7.5% alcohol – have become cheaper or barely risen in price, despite the cost of beer, wine and spirits soaring, according to research by Alcohol Change UK. Supermarkets are able to sell high-strength ciders at 'pocket money prices' by taking advantage of a subsidy intended to boost apple production, Alcohol Change UK says. It means that the cheapest cider Tesco sells – Compton Orchard, which is 4% alcohol by volume (ABV) – now costs the same as the supermarket's own-brand apple juice, at just £1 a litre. While the apple juice has risen 70% in cost since 2020, the cheapest cider costs 2.4% less now than the equivalent product then. A 2.5-litre bottle of Frosty Jack's cider, which is 7.5% ABV, has only increased in price by 5.3% since 2020 – from £4.89 to £5.15 – despite consumer price index inflation having been 26% over that time. But the cost of a pint of cider bought in a pub has gone up since 2020 by an average of 15.5%, from £3.88 to £4.48, Alcohol Change UK's research found. Similarly, the cost of two litres of own-brand cider in both Lidl and Aldi is still £1.99, even though Lidl's own-brand vodka is 25% more expensive. Under UK law, cider that is between 3.5% and 8.5% ABV is only taxed at £9.67 per litre of alcohol. That is just 46% of the £21.01 per litre of alcohol rate applied to beer. Ash Singleton, Alcohol Change UK's director of research and public affairs, said: 'Big producers knock up a deadly product with just enough concentrated apple to legally call it cider – and pocket the tax breaks. Supermarkets drive the demand, stocking it high to flog at pocket-money prices. 'From unsafe streets to NHS pressure and early deaths, working-class neighbourhoods bear the brunt of this irresponsible profit racket left by the last government.' Singleton urged ministers to 'fix the system, starting by scrapping the super-strength subsidy'. The charity has written to Ashley Dalton, the public health minister, saying the tax loophole 'allows multinational companies to cash in on reliefs meant for genuine small UK-based cider makers'. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion It said super-sized and high-strength cider was leading to early deaths. The charity said: 'It is unacceptable that the alcohol industry continues to push the cost of harm on to communities and stretched NHS and police services, while cashing on tax breaks to do so.' The British Retail Consortium, which represents supermarkets, did not respond to the disclosure that many ciders have barely risen in price while the cost of other alcoholic drinks has surged. A spokesperson said: 'Supermarkets have led the way in helping their customers drink responsibly, adopting the health department's labelling to give customers clear information about the alcohol they sell and how that relates to recommended guidelines. Working with other partners, such as the Drinkaware Trust, this has helped deliver a fall in excessive drinking. 'Increasing duties on cider would penalise the vast majority of consumers who already drink less than the government's recommended limits [of 14 units a week].' Tesco said it did not sell super-strong cider. A spokesperson said: 'We adhere to all UK pricing regulations on cider. Compton Orchard cider is 4% ABV, similar in strength to a regular lager, and we train our colleagues to use Think 25 and to ensure they sell all alcohol responsibly.' Lidl, Aldi and Compton Orchard were approached for comment.
The Guardian
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- The Guardian
Isabelle Szmigin obituary
My wife, Isabelle Szmigin, who has died aged 68 after a series of strokes, was professor emerita of marketing at Birmingham University and an honorary professor at Henley Business School. She was dedicated to her work in education. Even in retirement she taught consumer behaviour on international MBA programmes in Finland and Denmark, with plans to do the same in Singapore. She also served as chair of the board of trustees for Alcohol Change UK and her guidance helped the charity thrive. Born in Worcester, Isabelle was the daughter of Josie (nee Gill), a nurse, and Stan Kalinowski, a consultant at the Royal Worcester Infirmary and a Warsaw uprising survivor. She went to Worcester girls' grammar school and studied history of art and architecture under Neil MacGregor at the University of Reading in the 1970s. Isabelle and I met at a party in 1979 and hit it off, having in common 'awkward' Polish surnames and a love of art and culture. We married in 1980. She encouraged me to pursue an MBA, which then led her to undertake one herself at Cass Business School (now Bayes BS), City, University of London. She gained a distinction; and also won the Stanley Coglan prize, awarded by the Market Research Society in 1984. After raising our two sons, Isabelle earned a PhD at the University of Birmingham and joined its faculty in 1996, eventually becoming a professor of marketing in 2007 and later deputy dean of the business school. Her academic achievements included more than 90 research papers, the supervision of 15 successful PhDs, and co-authoring a well-regarded textbook, Consumer Behaviour (2022). Her father's lineage of theologians, doctors and intellectuals, including a bishop of Leipzig, perhaps inspired her unrelenting drive and curiosity. Colleagues remember her as 'positive, constructive and energising'. Isabelle's influence extended beyond academia. As a BBC Expert Women graduate, she appeared in hundreds of radio interviews and numerous TV segments, offering insights on consumer behaviour. She also contributed articles to the Guardian. Isabelle's heart was firmly rooted in family life. She delighted in birthdays, holidays and long walks with our border terrier, Jessie. She found beauty in life's simplest joys – morning birdsong, blackberry-picking and her grandchildren. She is survived by me, our sons, Alexander and Nicholas, and four grandchildren, Maxwell, Lara, Georgina and Constance.
