A new report on super-strength white ciders reveals the devastating impact these cheap and very strong alcoholic drinks are having on the health of homeless people across England.
It reveals how the drinks industry is using cheap culinary apple concentrate, often imported from abroad to make white ciders, whilst benefiting from the tax breaks and low duty intended to boost the development of traditional cider apple orchards. This allows the drinks industry to produce a potent 7.5% drink which is cheaper than bottled water or lemonade yet still extremely profitable.
The report, commissioned by Alcohol Concern, and written and researched by Tony Goodall, is backed by St Mungo’s and Thames Reach, two of the countries largest homelessness organisations.
‘White Ciders and Street Drinkers’ urges the drinks industry to recognise the damage caused by super-strength white ciders and to act responsibly and stop manufacturing it, alongside a series of recommendations for the Government:
- To considerably increase tax on ciders above 5% in a bid to get manufacturers to decrease the alcohol levels in white ciders.
- To link cider duty rates to beer duty rates, especially super-strength lagers, and to look at minimum pricing.
- For the Licensing Act 2003 to be amended to allow local authorities to ban the sale of super-strength drinks across their locality.
- An end to the practice of selling cider above 5% in two and three litre bottles and one litre cap to be introduced.
It also contains a series of interviews with street drinkers to establish the heath problems homeless white cider drinkers are struggling with. These include damage to liver, heart and stomach, double incontinence, fits, mental health problems, depression, blackouts and memory loss. In their own words the white cider drinkers reported:
“throwing up blood; stomach ulcers; aching bones, loss of balance, sleep deprivation; heart failure; DTs, have had seizures; weight loss, lack of appetite, poor coordination, liver shot to bits; sick, yellow vomit every morning, exhausted every day; makes me feel terrible; suffer from panic attacks and difficulty with sleeping; stomach ulcer got very bad, nearly fatal, vomiting blood by the pint in 2009; not remembering what I did last week let alone last month, poor skin complexion; diabetes, ongoing problems with my feet including toe amputation.”
Tony Goodall, author of the report, said: “This research has allowed me to see some of the devastation that is caused by white cider, but also to understand that it is not easy to solve the problem. All three main political parties and some parts of the alcohol industry have shown a real desire to do something about it. I hope our recommendations will provide the tools they need to ensure that future lives do not have to be bighted by this drink.”
Don Shenker, Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern, said: “This Government has shown its desire to tackle cheap alcohol and the social and health problems associated with it; however it needs to go much further to address the sale of white ciders which are predominantly used by street drinkers and young people as a fast way to get drunk. If the drinks industry cannot get its own house in order, then government should step in and tax white ciders out of the market. There is simply no excuse for allowing this damaging product to remain so cheaply available when the evidence is so clear that it contributes to ill health and damaged lives. It is truly shocking that the major drinks company and Portman Group member C&C Group, which has just signed up to the government’s responsibility deal, actually produces this stuff.”
Charles Fraser, Chief Executive of St Mungo’s said: “This is welcome research into an issue which has terrible consequences on people’s lives. Government and the drinks industry need to reconsider whether there really is still a place in society for strong cheap ciders, used solely for getting people drunk very quickly. Some producers are listening and all credit to them. We hope this research will convince others of the often harmful impact of the white ciders, and we call on Government to protect alcohol services funding.”
Jeremy Swain, Chief Executive of Thames Reach, said: “Super-strength drinks are a breed apart. The cheap and strong white ciders are a problem drink which have devastated and cut short the lives of tens of thousands of people since they emerged onto the marketplace. Astonishingly, they are killing more homeless people than heroin or crack cocaine. It’s time for the Government and drinks industry to act so that they disappear from the country’s supermarket and off-licence shelves.”
Download the report
Ends
Notes to editor
1) For further details contact Thames Reach communications manager, Mike Nicholas, on 07816 113420 or 0207 702 5646. mike.nicholas@thamesreach.org.uk
2) Alcohol Concern is the national agency on alcohol misuse campaigning for effective alcohol policy and improved services for people whose lives are affected by alcohol-related problems.
3) St Mungo's provides emergency help and runs over 100 projects that house homeless people and support their recovery, and prevent rough sleeping.
Every year we help thousands of people to make permanent life changes. St Mungo's works with homeless men and women on housing, health and work opportunities.
4)Thames Reach is one of the UK’s leading homelessness charities. Its vision is to end rough sleeping in the capital and help homeless and vulnerable people find decent homes, re-engage with family and friends and get back into work.
Thames Reach runs a range of services across London and last year the charity helped 8,908 people.
See www.thamesreach.org.uk
5) Alcohol Concern would like to acknowledge and thank the staff and service users of St Mungo’s, St George’s Crypt, St Anne’s, West Sussex DAAT and Thames Reach who gave up their time for this research project. We would also like to extend our thanks and appreciation to the National Association of Cider Makers, Heineken UK and Aston Manor for agreeing to be interviewed for this project.
