Drinking alcohol can affect our health and wellbeing in all sorts of ways. From low energy and poor sleep to anxiety and high blood pressure, alcohol affects us in more ways than we realise. That’s why it’s so important for the UK and devolved Governments to do everything in their power to reduce alcohol harm. According to the World Health Organization, one of the three most effective and cost-effective ways to reduce alcohol harm is to increase the price of alcohol.
Today, MUP in Scotland increased from 50p per unit to 65p per unit. The independent evaluation of MUP by Public Health Scotland found that MUP achieved its aims of reducing alcohol-related harms, by reducing the consumption of alcohol, averting hospital admissions, and saving lives.
Minimum unit pricing does not increase the price of all alcoholic drinks. It only raises the price of the strongest, cheapest drinks – the ones that cause most harm. That’s why it is such a smart and targeted measure. It also has no effect on pub or restaurant prices. It only affects strong, cheap drinks sold by corner shops and supermarkets, and so can actually work to support the hospitality industry.
Additionally, modelling from the University of Sheffield found that increasing the MUP level would lead to greater health benefits; while reducing it, or removing the MUP altogether, would lead to a substantial increase in harms. The report also estimates the impact of inflation, which has eroded the real-terms value of the 50p MUP level, and found that alcohol consumption is likely to have increased as a result.
Commenting on the MUP increase in Scotland, Dr Richard Piper, Chief Executive of Alcohol Change UK, said:
“The Scottish Government is leading the way and taking a stance against the vested interests of big alcohol companies by putting people over profit. Both international and UK evidence has shown the positive impact MUP can have, and we strongly encourage all four nations of the UK to look at the evidence and introduce MUP at an appropriate level to help save and improve lives. It is also essential that MUP continues to remain effective, by increasing at least in line with inflation in future years.”
In the first six months following the introduction of MUP by the Welsh Labour Government, early evidence showed an 8.6% decrease in the amount of alcohol purchased compared with western England. Currently unpublished research by Alcohol Change UK found that the biggest impact of MUP in Wales is on ciders, and particularly on strong (7.5% ABV) “white ciders”. As early as March 2020, large containers of these ciders were becoming harder to find, being largely unsaleable at 50p per unit. This trend has continued, and in March 2024, no 7.5% ABV ciders were found on sale, even in smaller bottles or cans. The full evaluation of MUP in Wales is expected to be published soon.
Like in Scotland, MUP in Wales was introduced with a “sunset clause”, which means that the Senedd must vote for MUP to continue. In advance of this, Alcohol Change UK will be campaigning for the continuation of MUP and reminding Senedd Members that to maintain its benefits, MUP must at least keep up with inflation.
Scotland and Wales have both felt the benefit of MUP, while Northern Ireland considers its introduction alongside the Republic of Ireland. It is time for England to catch up.
Alcohol Change UK is calling on the UK Government to:
- Consult immediately for MUP to be introduced in England. This should be set to at least 65p per unit.
- Establish suitable mechanisms to regularly uprate MUP at least in line with inflation. Putting in place this mechanism will help to protect the value and effectiveness of the policy.
Recent polling found that more people in the UK support (47%) than oppose (23%) MUP, to prevent alcohol being sold at low prices. People also felt that introducing MUP would positively impact on a number of the new government’s missions, including “Building an NHS fit for the future”, which over two in five 44% UK adults say should be the government’s top priority.
