Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill
Samaritans Cymru response
1. Samaritans is a registered charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress. In Wales, Samaritans works locally and nationally to raise awareness of their service and reach out into local communities to support people who are struggling to cope. They seek to use their expertise and experience to improve policy and practice and are active contributors to the development and implementation of Wales Suicide and Self Harm Prevention Action Plan ‘Talk to Me 2’.
2. Globally, over 800,000 people die by suicide each year.[1] In the United Kingdom and Ireland, more than 6000 people take their own lives each year and in Wales, between 300 and 350 people die by suicide each year. This is about 3 times the number killed in road accidents. In both England and Wales, suicide is the most common cause of death for men aged 20-49. Of the 322 suicides in Wales in 2016, 265 (82%) of these were by men.[2] In 2015, the age groups with the highest suicide rate per 100,000 in Wales were: 30-34 years, for all persons and 30-34 years for males. In reviewing trends over time, there has been a general increase in male suicide in Wales over the last 30 years, with a specific trend of increase since around 2008. Female suicide in Wales has decreased over same period, however, in line with the male trend, there has been a period of general increase since 2008.[3]
The extent to which the Bill will contribute to improving and protecting the health and well-being of the population of Wales
3. Although many factors are involved in suicide, the link between alcohol misuse and suicide has been well established. The risk of suicide is up to eight times greater when someone is abusing alcohol. Alcohol can reduce people’s inhibitions enough for them to act on suicidal thoughts and it can increase impulsivity, change people’s mood and deepen their depression. Young people under 24 are particularly vulnerable to thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts and suicide under the influence of alcohol.
4. The burden of alcohol related harm is carried by those in the most deprived groups in society, and Samaritans has previously found that men are more likely than women to use drugs or alcohol in response to distress. Of the 322 suicides in Wales in 2016, 265 (82%) of these were by men. This sits alongside data which shows men drink alcohol more frequently than women, and report to drinking above guidelines, heavy (binge) drinking or very heavy drinking.[4]
5. In our 2015 manifesto ‘Four Steps to Save Lives’, we focused on tackling alcohol misuse as one of the main steps required to reduce suicide rates in Wales, with the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing being one of our main recommendations. Therefore, we welcome the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill and believe that the introduction of MUP would help save lives and make a significant contribution to suicide prevention in Wales.
6. Samaritans believes that a combination of policies which address both individual behaviour and the culture which normalises harmful drinking is required. Initiatives need to address the underlying emotional distress people experience and provide support as well as reduce access to alcohol. The World Health Organisation has found that the alcohol policies most effective in reducing harms and costs are pricing and availability policies such as minimum pricing. We support evidence-based interventions to reduce alcohol related harm.
Bil Iechyd y Cyhoedd (Isafbris am Alcohol) (Cymru)
Ymateb Samariaid Cymru
1. Mae’r Samariaid yn elusen gofrestredig â’r nod o ddarparu cymorth emosiynol i unrhyw un sydd mewn trallod emosiynol. Yng Nghymru, mae’r Samariaid yn gweithio’n lleol ac yn genedlaethol i godi ymwybyddiaeth o’u gwasanaeth ac estyn allan i gymunedau lleol i gynorthwyo pobl sy’n cael trafferth i ymdopi. Maent yn ceisio defnyddio eu harbenigedd a’u profiad i wella polisïau ac arferion ac yn gyfranwyr gweithgar i’r gwaith o ddatblygu a rhoi ar waith Gynllun Gweithredu Atal Hunanladdiad a Hunan-niwed Cymru ‘Siarad â Fi 2’.
2. Dros y byd i gyd, mae mwy nag 800,000 o bobl yn marw trwy hunanladdiad bob blwyddyn.[5] Yn y Deyrnas Unedig ac Iwerddon, mae mwy na 6000 o bobl yn lladd eu hunain bob blwyddyn ac yng Nghymru, mae rhwng 300 a 350 o bobl yn marw trwy hunanladdiad bob blwyddyn. Mae hyn tua theirgwaith y nifer sy’n cael eu lladd mewn damweiniau ar y ffyrdd. Yng Nghymru ac yn Lloegr, hunanladdiad yw achos mwyaf cyffredin marwolaeth ymysg dynion 20-49 oed. O’r 322 o hunanladdiadau yng Nghymru yn 2016, roedd 265 (82%) gan ddynion.[6] Yn 2015, y grwpiau oedran â’r gyfradd hunanladdiadau uchaf am bob 100,000 o bobl yng Nghymru oedd: 30-34 oed, i bawb, a 30-34 oed, i ddynion. Wrth adolygu tueddiadau dros amser, bu cynnydd cyffredinol mewn hunanladdiadau ymysg dynion yng Nghymru dros y 30 mlynedd ddiwethaf, a gwelwyd tuedd benodol ar i fyny ers o gwmpas 2008. Mae hunanladdiadau ymysg menywod yng Nghymru wedi gostwng dros yr un cyfnod ond, yn unol â’r duedd ymysg dynion, gwelwyd cyfnod o gynnydd cyffredinol ers 2008.[7]
Y graddau y bydd y Bil yn cyfrannu at wella a diogelu iechyd a lles poblogaeth Cymru
3. Er bod llawer o ffactorau ynghlwm wrth hunanladdiad, mae’r cysylltiad rhwng camddefnyddio alcohol a hunanladdiad wedi’i hen sefydlu. Mae risg hunanladdiad hyd at wyth gwaith yn fwy pan fo rhywun yn camddefnyddio alcohol. Gall alcohol leihau ataliadau pobl ddigon iddynt weithredu ar feddyliau hunanladdol a gall gynyddu byrbwylltra, newid hwyliau pobl a gwaethygu eu hiselder. Mae pobl ifanc iau na 24 oed yn arbennig o agored i feddyliau am hunanladdiad, ceisiadau i ladd eu hunain a hunanladdiad o dan ddylanwad alcohol.
4. Mae baich niwed sy’n gysylltiedig ag alcohol yn cael ei gario gan y rheiny yn y grwpiau mwyaf difreintiedig yn y gymdeithas. Hefyd mae’r Samariaid wedi canfod o’r blaen bod dynion yn fwy tebygol na menywod o ddefnyddio cyffuriau neu alcohol wrth ymateb i drallod. O’r 322 o hunanladdiadau yng Nghymru yn 2016, roedd 265 (82%) gan ddynion. Mae hyn yn cyd-fynd â data sy’n dangos bod dynion yn yfed alcohol yn amlach na menywod, ac yn dweud eu bod yn yfed mwy na’r canllawiau, yn yfed yn drwm (mewn pyliau) neu’n yfed yn drwm iawn.[8]
5. Yn ein maniffesto o 2015 ‘Pedwar Cam i Achub Bywydau’, rhoesom sylw i fynd i’r afael â chamddefnyddio alcohol fel un o’r prif gamau yr oedd eu hangen i leihau’r cyfraddau hunanladdiad yng Nghymru, a chyflwyno isafswm pris uned oedd un o’n prif argymhellion. Felly, rydym yn croesawu Bil Iechyd y Cyhoedd (Isafbris am Alcohol) (Cymru) ac yn credu y byddai cyflwyno isafswm pris uned yn helpu i achub bywydau ac yn gwneud cyfraniad sylweddol i atal hunanladdiad yng Nghymru.
6. Mae’r Samariaid yn credu bod angen cyfuniad o bolisïau sy’n mynd i’r afael ag ymddygiad unigolion ac â’r diwylliant sy’n gwneud yfed niweidiol yn beth normal. Mae angen i fentrau fynd i’r afael â’r trallod emosiynol sylfaenol mae pobl yn ei brofi a darparu cymorth yn ogystal â lleihau’r gallu i gael gafael ar alcohol. Mae Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd wedi canfod mai’r polisïau ar alcohol sy’n fwyaf effeithiol wrth leihau niwed a chostau yw polisïau ar brisiau ac argaeledd, megis isafbris. Rydym yn cefnogi ymyriadau seiliedig ar dystiolaeth i leihau niwed sy’n gysylltiedig ag alcohol.
[1] World Health Organization (WHO). (2014). Preventing suicide: A global imperative. Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/mental_health/suicide-prevention/world_report_2014/en/
[2] ONS. (2016). Suicides in the United Kingdom, 2015 registrations. United Kingdom: Office for National Statistics
[3] Scowcroft, E. (2016). Suicide statistics report 2016: Including data for 2012-2014. Surrey: Samaritans.
[4] Public Health Wales Alcohol and health in Wales 2014: Wales profile
[5] Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd(WHO). (2014). Preventing suicide: A global imperative. Cafwyd o:http://www.who.int/mental_health/suicide-prevention/world_report_2014/en/
[6] Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol (2016). Suicides in the United Kingdom, 2015 registrations. Y Deyrnas Unedig: Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol
[7] Scowcroft, E. (2016). Suicide statistics report 2016: Including data for 2012-2014. Surrey: Samaritans.
[8] Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru Alcohol and health in Wales 2014: Wales profile