Alcohol purchasing by ill heavy drinkers; cheap alcohol is no single commodity

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Alcohol Studies
• Socioeconomic Determinants of Health

Background:

• Alcohol misuse presents significant public health challenges.
• Understanding purchasing behaviors of heavy drinkers is crucial for targeted interventions.
• Socioeconomic status can influence health-related consumption patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the drink purchasing habits of heavy drinkers in contact with Scottish health services.
• To compare these purchasing behaviors with national sales data.
• To explore the impact of socioeconomic status on alcohol purchasing.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted in Edinburgh and Glasgow in 2012.
• 639 patients with alcohol-related health issues completed questionnaires on consumption and purchasing.
• Socioeconomic status was assessed using the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Main Results:

• Heavy drinkers consumed a median of 184.8 UK units weekly, paying an average of 39.7 pence per unit.
• 95% of purchases were from off-trade settings, with 85% costing less than 50 pence per unit.
• White cider, beer, and vodka were popular low-priced choices, often bought from local shops, with consumption of cheapest options similar across socioeconomic groups.

Conclusions:

• Heavy drinkers predominantly buy from off-trade outlets, seeking the cheapest options, often from local retailers.
• While price is a key driver, other factors influence purchasing, and drinkers adapt their strategies.
• Legislation on multibuy sales may affect access to cheaper beer, but drinkers can substitute with other low-cost drinks to maintain high consumption.