Sharp drop in drink deaths follows alcohol price rise

[puckstopshere]

LONDON (Reuters) - Increasing the minimum price of alcohol by 10 percent can lead to immediate and significant drops in drink-related deaths and may also have long-term beneficial health effects, according to a study published on Thursday.

Canadian researchers found that deaths caused by alcohol between 2002 and 2009 in the western province of British Columbia dropped when the minimum alcohol price was increased, while alcohol-related deaths rose when more private alcohol stores were opened.

The findings will be keenly scrutinized by alcohol policy makers, particularly in Britain where the government plans to introduce a minimum price on alcohol to try to clamp down on binge drinking and anti-social behavior. The United States does not currently set a minimum alcohol price.

"This study adds to the scientific evidence that, despite popular opinion to the contrary, even the heaviest drinkers reduce their consumption when minimum alcohol prices increase," said Tim Stockwell of the University of Victoria's Center for Addictions Research of British Columbia, who led the study.

John Holmes of the alcohol research group at Britain's University of Sheffield said Stockwell's study was a major contribution to evidence about minimum alcohol pricing and gave a "strong indication that the policy has reduced the consumption levels of those drinking at hazardous and harmful levels."

Stockwell's team, whose research was published in the journal Addiction, looked at three categories of death linked to alcohol - wholly alcohol attributable, acute, and chronic - analyzing death rates across the time period against increases in government-set minimum prices of alcohol drinks.

The study was complicated by another policy in British Columbia under which alcohol sales were partially privatized after having previous been controlled through government-owned stores. This led to a substantial rise in the availability of alcohol.

Stockwell said the major finding was that increased minimum alcohol prices were associated with immediate, substantial and significant reductions in wholly alcohol attributable deaths, with a 10 price rise followed by a 32 percent death rate drop.

Significant falls in chronic and total alcohol associated deaths were also detected between two and three years after minimum price increases.

At the same time, a 10 percent increase in the number of private liquor stores was associated with a two percent rise in acute, chronic, and total alcohol associated death rates.

Stockwell said the reason for the lower death rates were likely to be due to the fact that raising the price of cheaper drinks makes heavy drinkers drink less.

Earlier research conducted by the same team and published in January last year found that each 10 percent increase in the minimum price of alcohol led people to drink 3.4 percent less alcohol overall.

http://news.yahoo.com/sharp-drop-drink-deaths-follows-alcohol-price-rise-001118784--sector.html

[brandeentertainment]

i haven't drank a single drop in 6 years soooooooo giver guys raise it through the roof alcohol is a horrible thing anyways well maybe not when having  barby or working outside on a hot summer LOL

[worldwandering]

Imagine what would happen if they legalized pot?  Maybe people would have an alternative to the abhorrent individual and societal effects of alcohol, and the stats would cut down even further.  Here is a post I just posted that somewhat follow's suit in response to the lottery winner supporting cannabis decriminalization;

I think he nailed it when he said "The biggest social injustice I've seen in all my entire lifetime is the criminalization and prohibition of marijuana."

Police use Cannabis as a reason to drive fear into peaceful people.   They use it as a means to criminalize you, destroy your life, search your car, take away your kids, and other endless reasons to hook you for some type of legal or financial trouble.  I read a story of a police officer going to someone's door, smelling pot, then attempting to take away his children.  The guy ended up dead.  How many persons have had their life destroyed from a police officer smelling pot?  In that case it cost some kids their father. It's also clear that alcohol causes far worse repercussions for individuals and society.  

I do not drink alcohol anymore.  I see what it does to people, families, society and I'm not buying it.  If I want to relax and take a break from the day to day grind in a way that's not abhorrently health ravaging, I'm labeled a criminal.   Liqour is worse than them all.  I've seen people do things on booze, they never would when they are sober. Alcohol killed 85,000 people last year.  You just don't hear about the that type of crime and destruction from cannabis.

IMO it's a giant govenment scam to drive fear into people, while to keep their alcohol induced crime revenue and justice system wheels turning.  Imagine alcohol was prohibited, this world would be a very different place without a doubt in my mind.  Alcohol is the real culprit, it brings out the evilest of evil in people, without them even knowing it.  Cannabis while detrimental in my mind with overuse, has provided countless artists with inspiration, spiritual guidance, medicinal qualities and a peaceful way to relax without the possibly dire consequence that follows alcohol.

It's depressing to see that there are people in this world, especially current government's who just can't stand to see somebody having the ability to smoke cannabis freely.  There is something wrong their brains.  They use the argument, "My kids," this and that, all while drinking a glass of wine.  There was no shortage of pot floating around in high school, that's for sure.  Legalize, and educate. Don't criminalize.  This insanity has gone on long enough.  

My hat is off to that gentleman, and I may even join their crusade, when the time comes to collect signatures.

[pierrelebel]

"Earlier research conducted by the same team and published in January last year found that each 10 percent increase in the minimum price of alcohol led people to drink 3.4 percent less alcohol overall."

Why not raise the price by 20% or 30% and reduce the number of people dying even more!

[pigdog47]

Raise the price 100% and reduce tuition costs for post secondary education.  

[puckstopshere]

I do not drink alcohol anymore.  I see what it does to people, families, society and I'm not buying it.

The problem with this is that alcohol affects a certain type of person.  The majority of people use alcohol in a resposnsible manner.  Those who have problems have an addictive personality.  They need something to "help them through the day".  If alcohol was to vanish from the face of the earth tomorrow, these people would find something else.

Marijuana has been called a "gateway drug".  The same type of person who becomes and alcoholic, or misuses alcohol will do the same with marijuana.  The majority of us will have no problem with marijuana.  Those with addictive personalities will abuse marijuana and may go on to other, more powerful drugs.  I have refused to ride in a car driven by a man who had been smoking pot all day.  He was in no better shape to drive than a person who had been drinking all day.  When I refused, he giggled and drove away.  He was too "mellow" to worry about me.  Five days later, I attended his funeral.  He never made it to his destination.  Glad I never got in that car. 

How long will it be before the same cops who stick a breathalyzer in your face will have a test for THC.  Impaired driving now includes people driving under the affects of drugs.  When pot is legalized, and it will be, the cops will be busting people for driving "while stoned". 

Marijuana is addictive for some people.  I have worked with people who couldn't go to work without being stoned.  While others were taking smoke breaks during the day,  they were around the corner keeping their high up.  Like booze, marijuana can be an escape. 

Only when marijuana is legalized will we see its full effect on our population.

[puckstopshere]

why not raise the price by 20% or 30% and reduce the number of people dying even more!

The reason why Canada is used as an example is because we already have controlled alcohol prices - and our alcohol is more expensive than many other countries.  We have already increased our prices by a significant amount thanks to taxes. 

When the govts. in Canada get control of marijuana, they will price it as high as the crooks people are buying it from now.  They will also gradually reduce its potency.  It will take you more and more to get high.  I think that is why there will always be a market for illegal pot.  It will be better quality and competetively priced. 

[pigdog47]

I kinda prefer thinking with a clear head than an altered state of reality.

Video games and cartoons have never appealed to me very much.  Ditto for fictional conversations presented as the Gospel Truth on a Discussion Board.

[worldwandering]

I forgot to mention that silly 'gateway drug' argument.

Calling Marijuana a gateway drug is a farce.  Alcohol is the true gateway drug.  Alcohol can and will completely obliterate rational thought and judgement.  Everybody who has drank has been at that point somewhere in their drinking career. Pot just doesn't do that.   People don't go from pot to meth or coke. It just doesn't happen.  Alcohol makes bad decisions for you. The full effect of pot on the population has already been played out as gang wars, drug pedlars (gateway activists), and innocent people criminalized.  Pot is already widely available everywhere.   The full effect has already been seen.  Kids get it easier than cigarettes and booze due to it's prohibition.  

[puckstopshere]

I forgot to mention that silly 'gateway drug' argument.

Thanks for your opinion, worldwandering phd

I guess the highly respected doctors who call it a gateway drug are full of it. 

Most of these doctors agree with decriminalization ane even legalizing it.

All agree that it has wonderful potential and use in the treatment of various diseases - thus the development of a form of pot with no THC - and no high.

Most, however, believe from their research and experience that it is a gateway drug.

[worldwandering]

"Thanks for your opinion, worldwandering phd"

Isn't there some hockey on?  Why don't you go sit down with your six pack and watch the game.

[puckstopshere]

Isn't there some hockey on?  Why don't you go sit down with your six pack and watch the game.

Don't watch it.  Used to when I was a kid as it was a way to spend time with my dad.  I am not into most sports, unless it is the London Knights.  Now, that is good hockey.

I like beer, but don't consume a six pack in one sitting.  Why don't you go light up a joint and drift off back into oblivion.  Your opinions are interesting, but based on your personal needs rather than fact.  Research a subject before you declare yourself an expert.

[pjcdn2005]

When the govts. in Canada get control of marijuana, they will price it as high as the crooks people are buying it from now.  They will also gradually reduce its potency.  It will take you more and more to get high.  I think that is why there will always be a market for illegal pot.  It will be better quality and competetively priced.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if that's what happens.