The Scottish National Party (SNP) has outlined its plans to introduce a minimum price per unit of alcohol. The Minimum Pricing Bill has not yet set out the proposed price but has commissioned further work by the University of Sheffield to model its likely impact. The SNP's previous attempt at a 45 pence minimum price was blocked by opposition parties when the SNP had a smaller majority.
The Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon said:
"We have had a wide ranging debate on alcohol pricing and there is now widespread recognition across the country of the need to tackle pricing... By setting a minimum price for a unit of alcohol, we can raise the price of the cheap supermarket white ciders, lager and value spirits sought out by problem drinkers."
The Government say the cost of alcohol consumption in Scotland is estimated to cost £3.56 billion each year, equivalent to £900 for every adult. Sturgeon said a minimum price was "not a magic bullet", but believes it will save hundreds of lives and millions of pounds over a number of years. The SNP has produced information on the effects of minimum pricing on common drinks and highlighted wide support from health groups.
But certain industry and retail bodies continued to speak out against the proposals, claiming they would breach EU competition law, increase illegal activity or trigger cross-border shopping. Opponents also repeated claims that a minimum price "would punish the responsible majority" - a line a health select committe report has said was a deliberate manipulation of the public's interpretation of the measure.
Speaking to the BBC, Sturgeon rejected claims that minimum pricing would affect responsible drinkers. She said the SNP were not "anti-alcohol", but it was wrong that a teenager could buy a potentially fatal amount of alcohol for less than £5. Brewer and trade body Greene King have also supported the move in expectation that it would help pubs who have lost out to cheap supermarket sales. See a selection of responses for and against the proposals here.
See further news reports including a BBC analysis, a Q&A on the proposals, and BBC news feature.
In England a minimum price is not supported by the Coalition Government who have emphasised voluntary action through the Responsibility Deal, but have committed to a 'below cost ban'. However the ban is not expected to affect prices under a 'Duty + VAT' definition of cost - ASDA who claimed to not to sell at below 'cost' recently came under fire for selling Budweiser at around 16 pence per unit. Manchester is attempting to bring in a regional minimum price via a local bye-law.
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