Tax and price

In this video James Nicholls discusses the use of tax and price to influence behaviour, especially in relation to the consumption of alcohol.

Throughout the video he refers to units of alcohol, as the basis of a new form of pricing (minimum unit pricing). A unit of alcohol is equal to 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol, or about half a pint of beer, a small glass of wine, or a single measure of a spirit. The idea of a unit was first developed in the mid 1970s as a way of measuring levels of alcohol consumption. Health education guidance on alcohol issued from the mid 1980s onwards also used the unit as a way to define sensible drinking.