The minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol increased to 65p yesterday (30 September), with the price of a 5% ABV one-litre bottle of cider increasing from £2.50 to £3.25 and a 70cl bottle of whisky at 40% ABV rising from £14 to £18.20.
However, the effectiveness of MUP, which was originally introduced at 50p in 2018, was called into question yet again, when the government recently revealed that, devastatingly, 1,277 people in Scotland had lost their lives to alcohol in 2023 – the highest figure registered since 2008.
The Scottish Health Secretary, Neil Gray, claimed that MUP had indeed been effective. “In The Lancet, international public health experts stated: ‘Policy makers can be confident that there are several hundred people with low income in Scotland who would have died as a result of alcohol, who are alive today as a result of minimum unit pricing’,” he cited last month, before adding that more needed to be done to reduce harm. He then announced plans to commission Public Health Scotland to carry out a review of all the evidence available on the impact that alcohol marketing and advertising has.
Critics of MUP, including Scottish Conservative MP Tess White, have previously accused the legislation of punishing responsible drinkers during a cost-of-living crisis.
Jas Khaira, who owns a Premier store in Alloa, shared similar concerns when he posted a list of price comparisons on his store’s Facebook page on September 10, showing the impact of the 65p MUP, and stating: “Scots who enjoy a wee tipple face some eye-watering hikes in just a couple of weeks’ time, but experts say this will only make the poor poorer.”
His post was met with numerous comments from followers venting their frustrations at the price.
Rob Brownfield said: “Highest alcohol deaths since coming to power, highest number of patients in hospital with alcohol-related illnesses, and zero proof minimum pricing has had any impact.”
Gary MacKenzie wrote: “With prices of many wines, beers and especially cider soon 30-40% higher than in England, the starting gun for the Carlisle to Dumfries booze run is ready to be fired.”
While Bill Grant said: “Just another local tax and revenue generator now driving this strategy, nothing else.”
Much to Jas’ frustration, other responders accused the shop of profiteering from the higher MUP. “I think a lot of people need to be educated on this,” he told SLR. “There’s not enough information out there and some people think that the retailers are making money. What they’re not realising is that the minimum unit price goes up for us too.”
Although initially receiving a frosty reception, by the time the original MUP law was implemented, it was hailed by the independent sector as a “golden opportunity” for price parity with supermarkets.
But Jas fears that the new pricing restrictions may have a negative impact on convenience store sales. “We were not affected last time because… the pricing was a lot different to now,” he said. “This time it will affect us because there’s no cash out there. With inflation, people are struggling with debt. I think people are going to buy less alcohol from us and be more attracted towards supermarkets.”
However, he felt that the latest MUP hike would do little to counter the harms caused by excessive alcohol consumption. “No matter what, I think if somebody’s going to drink, they’re going to drink,” he stated matter of factly.
