The British Liver Trust welcome today’s Budget statement and the Chancellor’s decision to increase alcohol duty in line with inflation. This is a significant decision, demonstrating political leadership and a clear commitment to public health, which recognises the central role of policy in reducing the harmful impacts of alcohol on individuals, families, and communities across the UK. This policy will help to save lives, reduce downstream pressure on our NHS, and boost economic competitiveness.
As a member of the Alcohol Health Alliance, we know raising price is the main lever in reducing the significant harm alcohol causes in our society. After years of government inaction and repeated freezes or cuts to alcohol duty, this increase is not only a necessary measure, in light of rising alcohol-related deaths, but also signals a shift toward prioritising health, protecting the most vulnerable and mitigating preventable harm.
The Budget is also an opportunity to engage fiscal levers which can reduce the consumption of foods and drinks high in fat, salt and sugar to reduce levels of overweight and obesity and improve the nation’s health. The Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) introduced in April 2018 is an excellent example of such a policy, which delivered product reformulation, reduced sugar intake and improved child health and prevented 5,000 cases of obesity. We are delighted the Chancellor has chosen to uprate SDIL in line with inflation and review the current sugar thresholds and the exemption for milk-based drinks. There is more work needed to reduce the consumption of food high in fat, salt and sugar and address the two-thirds of adults who are overweight or obese in the UK, and critically reduce the surge in childhood obesity – we encourage the Chancellor to go further to reduce the quantity of foods and drinks high in fat, salt and sugar in future Budgets. Such measures will improve the nation’s health, reduce obesity and downstream pressures on our NHS and improve workforce competitiveness.
We greatly welcome the confirmation of compensation for patients who acquired viral hepatitis as a result of the Infected Blood Scandal. The Chancellor announced £11.8bn funding to compensate those infected and affected by the scandal.
We also welcome the extra £22bn increase in the day-to-day health budget, and a £3.1bn increase in the capital budget announced for the NHS. As well as this week’s announcement for additional capital investment to reduce waiting times, with £1.5bn for new surgical hubs and scanners. We await further details of these announcements and the Comprehensive Spending Review, which we hope will include funding for improvements in the early detection of liver disease.
Pamela Healy OBE, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust, commented,
“The Chancellor has shown great political courage and leadership in increasing alcohol duty from February in today’s Budget. Price is the most impactful policy lever to reduce the harm caused by alcohol misuse and improve the nation’s health and workforce competitiveness. We greatly welcome this announcement and the public health improvements this policy choice makes to reduce alcohol harm in society.
We welcome confirmation of funding to compensate patients who acquired viral hepatitis as a result of the Infected Blood Scandal. Compensation for people who received infected blood and infected blood products is long overdue. Today’s announcement will hopefully draw a line under this deep injustice.
The Government has highlighted the clear link between the nation’s health and our economic performance and competitiveness. Today’s Budget brings forward clear measures to deliver on this ambition.”