Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

White cider consumption and heavy drinkers: a low-cost option but an unknown price

Black, Heather; Michalova, Lucie; Gill, Jan S; Rees, Cheryl; Chick, Jonathan; O'May, Fiona; Rush, Robert; McPake, Barbara

Authors

Heather Black

Lucie Michalova

Jan S Gill

Cheryl Rees

Jonathan Chick

Fiona O'May

Robert Rush

Barbara McPake



Abstract

Aims: To compare characteristics of heavy drinkers who do, or do not, drink white cider during their typical drinking week and to contrast white cider drinkers' behaviour with a similar group recruited in comparable settings 4 years previously. To consider if excessive white cider consumption poses a specific health risk. Methods: Cross-sectional survey of alcohol purchasing and consumption by heavy drinkers consuming white cider in Edinburgh and Glasgow during 2012; comparison of purchasing patterns within Edinburgh in 2008–2009 and 2012. Participants were 639 patients (in- and out-patient settings) with serious health problems linked to alcohol, 345 in Glasgow, 294 in Edinburgh in 2012, and 377 in Edinburgh in 2008–2009. Results: In 2012 white cider consumption was reported by 25% of participants (median consumption (all alcohol) was 249 UK units per week—1 UK unit being 8 g of ethanol). They were more likely to be male and younger. They drank more units of alcohol than non-white cider drinkers and reported more alcohol-related problems. The median price paid for white cider in 2012 was 17 ppu. The period 2008–2012 was associated with decreasing affordability of alcohol, but consumption levels amongst the heaviest drinkers were maintained, associated with an increased proportion of units purchased as white cider. Conclusion: White cider makes an important contribution to the weekly intake of heavy drinkers in Scotland, likely facilitated by low price per unit of alcohol. We suggest these characteristics permit this drink to act as a buffer, supporting the continuation of a heavy drinking pattern when affordability of alcohol falls.

Citation

Black, H., Michalova, L., Gill, J. S., Rees, C., Chick, J., O'May, F., …McPake, B. (2014). White cider consumption and heavy drinkers: a low-cost option but an unknown price. Alcohol and alcoholism : international journal of the Medical Council on Alcoholism, 49, 675-680. https://doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agu068

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date 2014
Deposit Date Feb 18, 2015
Print ISSN 0735-0414
Electronic ISSN 1464-3502
Publisher Oxford University Press
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 49
Pages 675-680
DOI https://doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agu068
Keywords Alcoholism; white cider; consumption; statistical analysis; Glasgow; Edinburgh; Scotland; health care and social policy.
Public URL http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/7587
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agu068