Scotland on Sunday "understands that the SNP is poised to back a 40p per unit rate for all alcoholic drinks when it announces its full plans later this year. The government believes that it will stop shops from selling loss-leading cheap drink, while leaving more expensive brands untouched. A final decision on the exact rate will be made after a study by Sheffield University into the likely impact.
But officials believe the 40p rate strikes the right balance, hitting the sale of cheap drink while not being too punitive for consumers. Nonetheless, the SNP faces a struggle to get its plans through parliament, with neither the Tories, the Liberals or Labour yet having committed to the principle of minimum pricing. The 40p rate may also fail to satisfy medics, many of whom believe only a 50p per unit rate will adequately cut drinking. A report in the medical journal the Lancet found last week that such a rate would cut heavy drinkers' intake by 10%". Full story here.
The University of Sheffield last year carried out a review of alcohol pricing and promotion for the Department of Health. Reports here (under Research). The government says it is 'evaluating the findings' but seems reluctant to come to the same conclusions as the SNP.
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