News & Media

SARG Director Professor John Holmes and Research Fellow Dr Abi Stevely will be sharing their extensive knowledge and insights on minimum unit pricing (MUP) at a webinar hosted by the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS).

This free webinar, 'Minimum Unit Pricing: Lessons for England', will take place on Thursday 29 May at 12pm. It will explore key aspects of MUP, drawing on experiences from Scotland and Wales to inform potential policy discussions in England.

The event will provide a comprehensive overview of MUP, examining its theoretical underpinnings and practical impacts. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the policy's implementation in Scotland and Wales, including the political and media landscape, industry responses, health outcomes, and economic effects. The webinar will also address potential unintended consequences, such as the erosion of MUP's effectiveness due to inflation and retailer profit margins.

Key topics to be covered

• What MUP is and how it works.
• Key lessons learned from Scotland and Wales, including advocacy efforts.
• The impact of MUP on dependent drinkers and people in deprived areas.
• Recommendations for how England could improve upon the devolved nations' policies.
• Findings from a new Social Market Foundation report on recouping windfall retailer profits.

Agenda

12:00-12:10: Introduction from Dr. Katherine Severi, IAS
12:10-12:20: Dr. Abi Stevely, Sheffield Addictions Research Group
12:20-12:30: Prof John Holmes, Sheffield Addictions Research Group
12:30-12:40: Alison Douglas, Alcohol Focus Scotland
12:40-12:50: Andrew Misell, Alcohol Change UK
12:50-13:00: Jake Shepherd, Social Market Foundation
13:00-13:30: Q&A session facilitated by Dr. Katherine Severi

This event is aimed at public health professionals, researchers, healthcare workers, civil servants, NGOs and health agencies.

SARG's expertise in minimum unit pricing

The Sheffield Addictions Research Group has played a pivotal role in the development and implementation of MUP policies. Our research has directly informed the introduction of MUP in Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland, and we were instrumental in defending the policy during legal challenges in Scotland.

Since 2009, SARG has conducted numerous modelling projects for the Scottish Government to assess the impact of MUP. Our work directly informed Scotland's decision to increase the MUP level from 50p to 65p in September 2024, and the Scottish Government cited SARG's research when announcing this increase to parliament.

Registration

Register to attend 'Minimum Unit Pricing: Lessons for England' via Eventbrite.