Iqbaal Abdi
A newly published report by UK-based think tank Equi stated the UK could benefit by adopting successful British Muslim-led initiatives in providing alcohol-free spaces. The report found abstinence from alcohol among Muslims saves the NHS £1.62 billion per year.
The total cost of alcohol in the UK is £40 billion, translating to £1,074 per tax-paying resident every year, Equi reported. From this cost, £5.89 billion accounts for the NHS cost of alcohol misuse. With estimates from England alone indicating that 609,416 adults were alcohol dependent, this misuse increases the risks of liver damage, impacts decision-making, slows reflexes and can lead to alcohol poisoning.
In addition, alcohol misuse has great ramifications on families and local communities. In 2022, there were an estimated 6,800 casualties and 300 deaths resulting from drink-driving incidents across Britain. In addition, Equi suggested approximately 25 to 50% of domestic abuse cases in the UK, particularly gender-based violence, can be attributed to alcohol use. The use of alcohol has also been identified as a key factor in the break-up of families, exacerbating the number of children who are placed under the care system.
| Country | Cost of Alcohol to Society |
|---|---|
| England | £27.44 billion1 |
| Scotland | £10 billion2 |
| Wales | £800 million3 |
| Northern Ireland | £900 million4 |
| Total cost to the UK | £39.14 billion |
| Cost to UK due to premature deaths | £13.51 billion5 |
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total cost (gross) | £52.65 billion |
| Less revenue from taxes | £12.5 billion6 |
| Total cost (net) | £40.15 billion |
However, Equi found that there is a downward trend in drinking habits in the UK. The report explained that there is a generational difference in the consumption of alcohol in the UK. The report stated, ‘Individuals aged 16-24 in England are more likely to be non-drinkers, whereas people in their 50s and 60s in England, Wales and Scotland were the least likely to be non-drinkers.
The shifting attitudes towards alcohol can be attributed to a number of factors, including social media influencers promoting healthy lifestyles and the fear of being posted under the influence. The ramifications of these changing attitudes towards alcohol are a contributing factor to the decline of late-night venues and pubs. Equi specified that ‘British pubs will close at a rate of one a day this year, with more than 15,000 pubs having closed since 2000’, thus hindering avenues for social interaction and community-building.
The impact of faith and ethnic differences on the consumption of alcohol is also highlighted by Equi. For example, 90% of people of Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage, who make up the largest Muslim ethnic groups in the UK, were found to be non-drinkers, compared to 9% of the general white British population. Non-drinkers, including Muslims and young people, save the government an estimated £7.46 billion per year.
The economic benefits from fostering and promoting low drinking or abstinence are huge, with the potential of alleviating NHS debt and balancing expenditure.
| Country | Population | Population of drinkers46 | Estimated general non-drinkers (16+) (includes all groups, incl. Muslims)47 |
Muslim population | Muslim non-drinkers (71%)48 | Savings due to Muslims drinking less | Estimated savings linked to general non-drinkers (includes all groups, incl. Muslims) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 57.69 million | 46.73 million (81%) | 10.96 million (19%) | 3.8 million | 2.7 million | £1.54 billion | £6.28 billion |
| Scotland | 5.49 million | 4.39 million (80%) | 1.1 million (20%) | 119,872 | 85,109 | £48.78 million | £630 million |
| Wales | 3.16 million | 2.63 million (83%) | 537,948 (17%) | 66,947 | 47,532 | £27.13 million | £307 million |
| Northern Ireland | 1.92 million | 1.5 million (78%) | 422,488 (22%) | 10,870 | 7,718 | £4.4 million | £242 million |
| Total | 68.27 million | 55.25 million | 13.02 million | 3.99 million | 2.84 million | £1.62 billion | £7.46 billion |
Moreover, benefits can expand to educational, work and social settings. The late-night scene could be rejuvenated by alcohol-free spaces staying open later, complementing trends of decreased consumption of alcohol in younger generations and Muslims. Equi suggests the government could invest in keeping museums and tourist attraction sites open for longer hours, drawing on recent success in Turkiye.
Additionally, shifting social activities away from universities and workplaces could help reduce the feelings of exclusion experienced by some Muslims and individuals who prefer alcohol-free environments. Equi reported, ‘a survey by Movendi found that 76% of workers in the UK would like to see alcohol-free workplace gatherings.’ Given this figure, the government should support the shift towards increased sobriety in society
The report recommended seven policies to lower alcohol misuse and its costs and promote low consumption or abstinence, in line with recent trends. For example, introducing a minimum unit pricing (MUP) which puts a base price per unit of alcohol sold, could save the government an estimated £2.52 billion a year according to Equi.
Furthermore, ensuring the labelling on alcoholic drinks are more user-friendly would enable buyers to make a better-informed choice on their consumption.
Lastly, drawing on faith-led initiatives that spread awareness on alcohol dependency in a culturally and faith-sensitive approach, in collaboration with civil society organisations and the government, could lead to effective mitigation of alcohol misuse in communities.
Feature photo: Muslim women in an alcohol-free café. A new report by Equi highlights how such social spaces contribute to healthier lifestyles and save the UK billions in alcohol-related costs. (Credit: freepik)
