HEDS is part of the School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) at the University of Sheffield. We undertake research, teaching, training and consultancy on all aspects of health related decision science, with a particular emphasis on health economics, HTA and evidence synthesis.

Thursday 2 October 2014

Below cost selling of alcohol evaluation

This is follow up work the minimum unit pricing (MUP) work undertaken in recent years, and compares MUP to the government’s preferred policy of banning below cost selling (BCS) of alcohol.  The ban below cost selling means that price could not be lower than tax payable on the product.

The proportion of the market affected by the two strategies is 0.7% for BCS and 23.2% for a 45p minimum unit price. In terms of deaths avoided (or should that be delayed?), the figures are 14 and 624, respectively.  Further comment, not required.

But further details are available in the BMJ.  Brennan A, Meng Y, Holmes J, Hill-McManus D, Meier P.  Potential benefits of minimum unit pricing for alcohol versus a ban on below cost selling in England 2014: modelling study. BMJ 2014; 349 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g5452
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