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AFS joins NCD Alliance in calling for a levy on alcohol and tobacco retailers

A coalition of health campaigners has written to the Scottish Government ahead of the upcoming Scottish budget calling for the introduction of a levy on retailers of tobacco and alcohol products to fund tangible actions to reduce deaths from preventable diseases.

The NCD Alliance Scotland, a coalition of 24 leading health organisations campaigning for action on health harming products, says non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death and ill health in Scotland, contributing to around 52,000 deaths in 2023 (83% of all deaths).

One in five NCD deaths are directly related to alcohol, tobacco, and overweight and obesity, which the Alliance says could be prevented through public health action.

They’re calling for the Scottish Government to introduce a new Public Health Supplement on non-domestic rates for alcohol and tobacco retailers in the 2025-2026 Budget. The previous Public Health Supplement, which ran from April 2012 to March 2015, raised £95 million.

Research by the Fraser of Allander Institute, commissioned by Alcohol Focus Scotland, estimates that a levy on shops selling alcohol alone could raise £57 million per year if set at the same level as the previous supplement. The levy would principally affect large supermarket chains, making up 86% of the revenues raised, with the money being redistributed to local authorities to utilise on health improvement measures.

The Alliance recommends the introduction of ‘polluter pays’ levies on health-harming products as part of their recently published 10-year vision to address the commercial determinants of health. It has put forth three tangible health improvement measures to the government which they suggest could be funded by a new levy: supporting healthier pregnancies and healthier families, supporting early detection of liver disease via non-invasive liver scans, and collaborating with local groups on peer support interventions to quit tobacco products.

According to the Health Foundation, there is broad public support across the UK for measures to prevent ill health from tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy foods. There is also support from the Scottish public for a retailer levy, with a survey carried out by YouGov for ASH earlier this year finding that 57% of people in Scotland support a levy on alcohol retailers to fund measures to prevent alcohol harm, including funding support services.

David McColgan, Chair of the NCD Alliance Scotland said:

“The cost of health-harming products to our communities, wider society and our economy is vast, with a particular impact on our NHS. Alcohol harms alone are estimated to cost Scotland between £5 billion and £10 billion each year, including up to £700 million each year in health and social care costs. It costs our NHS at least £300 million a year to treat smoking-related diseases, and the annual cost of obesity has been estimated at £5.3 billion.

“With the current severe financial pressure on our health and care services especially, the costs of dealing with the impact of alcohol, tobacco and unhealthy food on our society should not be borne solely by taxpayers. It is more than reasonable to expect industry which reaps the profits to pay towards mitigating the health and social costs caused by the health-harming products they sell - following the ‘polluter pays’ principle. A new Public Health Supplement would ensure that retail pays its way.”

Laura Mahon, Deputy Chief Executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland said:

“We’ve been calling for a levy on retailers who sell alcohol products for some time. This could be used to fund some of the lifesaving action we need to tackle the alcohol emergency in Scotland. 

“This year, alcohol-specific deaths reached a 15-year high. Alcohol-related liver disease is responsible for most of these deaths, with 805 people lost to this disease last year. It is a silent killer, which can affect people over the long-term, often showing no obvious symptoms until it’s too late. Just regularly drinking over 14 units per week increases your risk of developing liver disease.  

“Around one million Scots are currently drinking at levels which are potentially harmful to their health and increasing their risk of dying from alcoholic liver disease or alcohol related cancers.  It is crucial to recognise that a large proportion of alcohol specific deaths are not in dependent drinkers – but come as a consequence of a lifetime of heavy alcohol use.

“A new Public Health Supplement would save lives by raising money to fund the scanning equipment and staff training needed to catch this disease early. 

“Businesses profit from the sale of health harming products, and it is estimated that revenues from alcohol have increased since the introduction of minimum unit pricing. Studies suggest that the additional revenue is over £30 million per year, and this is estimated to rise by another £16.5 million a year, following the increase of MUP in September. Introducing a levy on harmful products would help redress the balance.”

Pamela Healy OBE, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust said,

“Liver disease deaths in Scotland have soared by 85% in the last 3 decades. Bold action is needed to accelerate early diagnosis and curb alcohol harm to save lives and reduce avoidable costs and pressures on our NHS.

“This is why we’re backing a new Public Health Supplement today. It is a critical lever for unlocking vital funding from health harming industries, which can transform early diagnosis of liver disease and liver cancer across Scotland. The levy can be used to fund the early detection of liver disease via non-invasive liver scans – literally saving lives.

“90% of liver disease is preventable. If diagnosed early damage can often be reversed and the liver can fully recover.”

Professor Ewan Forrest, a consultant liver specialist at Glasgow Royal Infirmary said,

“Early Detection of alcohol-related liver disease not only allows an opportunity to prevent hospital admissions and avoidable deaths, but it also provides motivation for people to address their alcohol problems.

“Our community-based project using a specialised liver scan in the North East of Glasgow identifies people with significant liver disease before they develop symptoms. This approach could significantly reduce the burden of alcohol-related illness and deaths.”