Ellen McGrane is a Research Associate in Alcohol and Public Health within the Sheffield Addictions Research Group and the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Addictions. She holds degrees in Economics and Health Economics from the University of Sheffield and has worked at the Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research since 2024. Ellen completed her PhD at the University of Sheffield, exploring the impact of gambling advertising during live sport. Since completing her PhD, her research has included conceptualising a whole-population model of alcohol that better integrates alcohol consumption and alcohol dependence, contributing to reviews of the evidence on Minimum Unit Pricing for alcohol, and undertaking a range of smaller quantitative projects. She also continues to pursue her research interests in gambling.

Abstract

The effect of minimum unit pricing on alcohol consumption and alcohol-related health and social outcomes: A systematic review of evaluation studies

Aims: Minimum unit pricing sets a legal floor price for a specified amount of alcohol. It aims to reduce alcohol-related harm by targeting price increases on low-cost, high-strength products. Several jurisdictions have implemented minimum unit pricing and evidence from evaluation programmes has generated significant public debate regarding the policy’s effectiveness. This systematic review synthesises findings from quantitative studies assessing the effects of minimum unit pricing on alcohol consumption or related health and social outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed and grey literature following PRISMA guidelines, searching multiple databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL Plus, Ovid [MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO]) as well as websites of relevant organisations. Eligible studies comprised original quantitative research that assessed the impact of minimum unit pricing on consumption, health or social outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed using ROBINS-I, with evidence certainty assessed by outcome type using the GRADE tool. Due to substantial heterogeneity in study design and outcomes, we synthesised findings overall and by jurisdictions that have implemented minimum unit pricing using Synthesis Without Meta Analysis guidelines.

Results: Fifty-three included studies from four jurisdictions (Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Australia’s Northern Territory) assessed the effects of minimum unit pricing on alcohol consumption (n=29), deaths (n=2), hospitalisations (n=9), assault and violence (n=9), emergency department presentations (n=5), road traffic accidents (n=5), alcohol use disorders (n=4) and others (n=23). There is moderate certainty evidence that minimum unit pricing reduces alcohol consumption and alcohol-attributable mortality, low certainty evidence that it reduces alcohol-related hospitalisations, and very low certainty evidence of effects on broader social harms (e.g. road traffic accidents, assault and violence). The certainty of evidence varied by jurisdiction, with Scotland providing greater certainty evidence than elsewhere, where risk of bias was typically higher.

Conclusions: Minimum unit pricing is an effective intervention for reducing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related mortality, but its impact on broader social outcomes is uncertain.