Minimum pricing in Scotland appears to reduce alcohol purchases

The introduction of minimum pricing for alcohol in Scotland appears to have cut drinking, a study suggests.

A study published in the British Medical Journal has found that the introduction of minimum unit pricing for alcohol (MUP) appears to have cut drinking. Since 1 May 2018, the price of alcohol had to be at least 50p per unit and the research looked at retail purchases before and after the pricing changed up to the end of 2018. The analysis excluded pubs, bars and restaurants, where a quarter of drinks are purchased.

It found the amount purchased per person, per household per week fell by 7.6% or 1.2 units - equivalent to half a pint of beer or a measure of spirits.

The reduction in purchased grams of alcohol was greater in lower income households and only occurred in the top fifth of households by income that purchased the greatest amount of alcohol.

Reductions were most noticeable for beer, spirits and cider, including high-strength white ciders and own brand spirits.) There was only a non-significant drop in consumption of wine.

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association maintain their long held view is that MUP is likely to be ineffective in changing the behaviour of problem drinkers. They say there are also questions about the potential impact of the policy on cross border trade and illicit alcohol.