Scotland is introducing a minimum pricing scheme for alcohol, which will come into force from May this year.
Scotland’s health secretary, Shona Robison, announced that from May, the minimum price for a unit of alcohol will be priced at 50 pence.
“With alcohol on sale today in some places at just 16 pence per unit, we have to tackle the scourge of cheap, high-strength drink that causes so much damage to so many families. This move will save thousands of lives,” she said.
Alcohol Focus Scotland has found that own-brand spirits and strong ciders can currently be bought at prices as low as 18 pence per unit. The new pricing system will be introduced as an attempt to cut the intake of problem drinkers.
The 50 pence price was set back in 2012 but enacting the price changes has faced multiple challenges following legal action against minimum pricing.
This was pursued by The Scotch Whisky Association, who claimed that an excise duty or tax would be an equally effective way of reducing problem drinking in Scotland.
Following legal battles, the Supreme Court in London concluded that “proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim” and would target “the health hazards of cheap alcohol and the groups most affected in a way that an increase in excise or VAT does not”.
It has been estimated that half of the alcoholic drinks found in Scotland will be affected by the price changes – inflation means this is lower than the 70 percent of drinks that would have been affected in 2012.
“I am grateful to everyone who took the time to respond to the consultation on our proposed minimum price per unit of alcohol and I am happy to confirm that we will be moving forward with our recommendation of 50 pence,” said Robinson.
Wales is expected to introduce a similar ruling this year.