Higher beer prices 'cut gonorrhoea rates'

Raising the price of beer leads to a reduction in cases of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhoea, researchers have said.
The research from the US suggests that raising the price of a six-pack of beer by 20cents would cut gonorrhoea rates by almost 9%.

But the finding has been questioned by sexual health experts in the UK who said driving home the safe sex message was the key to cutting infection rates.


Of the 36 beer tax increases that we reviewed, gonorrhoea rates declined among teens aged 15 to 19 in 24 instances

Dr Kathleen Irwin
Cases of the disease surged by 35% in London last year, but this has been blamed on fewer people using condoms rather than on alcohol. --