(review)Policy windows and multiple streams : An analysis of alcohol pricing policy in England

This article aimed to use Kingdon’s multiple streams model to explain the failure of minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol in England. This article believed that the reason why MUP failed is mainly due to political fluency.

 

  1. Problem Stream (identification of an issue)

Raising alcohol harms in society

Who should be targeted by the policy?

minority of problematic drinkers

heavy episodic drinking rather than long-term heavy drinking

 

MUP is a whole population measure. However, MUP can also be said to be a targeted measure as not all products are affected by it.

 

  1. Policy Stream (development of potential policy)

 

The development of MUP

Modeling test by researchers at the University of Sheffield School of Health and Related Research, which succeeded in changing the farming of policy debates to the whole-population approach.

 

Laid a foundation for policy entrepreneurs to bring forward proposals to adopt price-based interventions and create a window of opportunity for policy change.

 

Success developed MUP in Scotland. MUP soon emerged as the key alcohol policy focus in the UK.

 

  1. Political Stream (political factors)

 

inclusion of MUP in the government alcohol strategy

 

The Conservative- Liberal Democrat coalition government was formed in May2010. The Liberal Democrats had committed to "support a ban on below-cost selling" and in favour of MUP.

 

Failed

 

  1. Lack of political commitment

  2. lacked political support within government 

  3. No champions at senior ministerial levels prepared to against strong opposition

  4. Failed to offer public endorsement

  5. Brexit negotiations absorbed political focus and energy < high priority

 

Discussion

 

The ability of “Spillover” to occur between policy settings within the UK (Scotland > England)

Importance of high-level political commitment

Highlights the important role that civil society actors can play

 

Hawkins, B., & McCambridge, J. (2020). Policy Windows and multiple streams: An analysis of alcohol pricing policy in England. Policy & Politics, 48(2), 315-333. https://doi.org/10.1332/030557319x15724461566370

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