Minimum unit pricing begins in Scotland

Maddy Lawson | May 2018 | 5 minutes

On 1 May 2018 the Scottish Government introduced a minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol.

Dr Richard Piper, Chief Executive of the charity formed by the merger of Alcohol Concern and Alcohol Research UK, said:

“Today is a landmark not only for Scotland, but for the rest of the UK. For Scotland, minimum unit pricing will mean that the cheapest, highest-strength alcohol increases in price, reducing the number of units drunk by those who drink most heavily who are most at risk of harm.

“For the rest of the UK, this is an opportunity to see forward-thinking alcohol policy in action. The Scottish Government has set in place an extensive and detailed evaluation programme of minimum unit pricing, meaning that our policy-makers will have even better evidence upon which to act in future.

“We hope that minimum unit pricing in Scotland marks a step change, and that we can expect further smart, evidence-based policy that will make a difference in reducing alcohol harm across the UK.”

Read our blog on what minimum unit pricing in Scotland means, for both Scotland and the rest of the UK, here.