ICU admissions for alcohol misuse dropped by more than one third at a major NT hospital in the 12 months following the introduction of a minimum alcohol floor price, a new study shows.

A minimum unit price for alcohol of $1.30 per standard drink came into effect across the territory in October 2018 in the face of opposition from the drinks industry which claimed it breached the Australian constitution.

Intensive care doctors at Alice Springs Hospital found that 19% (n=117) of total ICU admissions in the year before the policy’s introduction were related to alcohol misuse, compared to 12% (n=82) the year after.

The relative reduction of 38% was primarily driven by a decline in admissions for acute alcohol misuse, they said.