Working and waiting: Homeless drinkers responses to less affordable alcohol

摘要

A number of authorities have called recently for fixed minimum prices on alcohol. For example, a minimum of 50 pence per 8 g unit of ethanol has been suggested in the UK [1], AUdollar1.20 per 10 g standard drink in Australia [2] and CAdollar 1.50 per 13.45 g standard drink in British Columbia [3]. A frequently aired objection to minimum pricing polices is that people on low or no income and who are severely alcohol dependent may be pushed into committing crimes to obtain alcohol and/or resort to more dangerous non-beverage sources, such as methylated spirits, ethanol-based mouthwash, hand-sanitiser or aftershave [e.g. 4]. One possible harm reduction response to the latter problem is to provide some severely alcohol dependent individuals with access to less hazardous forms of alcohol in a controlled environment-variously termed 'wet shelters' or 'managed alcohol programs' (MAPs) [e.g. 5]. Such programs have been available in Ontario, Canada for some years and are beginning to be introduced in British Columbia-although the idea is much older [e.g. 6].