Scotland Gets 50p-per-unit Alcohol Price, Minimum unit pricing of alcohol from next year Options

[GG]

SNP Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon will tomorrow announce that Scotland is to adopt a 50p-per-unit minimum alcohol price. The measure is intended to tackle problem drinking by increasing the cost of cheap vodka, lager and cider. The 50p figure is higher than the original 45p proposed by ministers two years ago, and is rumoured to have caused a split within the Scottish cabinet.

The minimum pricing policy will be implemented from next year, making the cheapest bottle of wine £4.69, while a four-pack of lager would cost at least £3.52, and a two-litre bottle of strong cider £6.

While the SNP government says that the pricing policy will save the NHS money and encourage people to live better lives, opposition groups argue that the bill will penalise modest drinkers, enrich supermarkets by creating higher profit margins, and could break EU competition law.

Minimum pricing has been promoted by health campaigners, while the SNP government claims that alcohol abuse is a "brake on Scotland's social and economic growth".

Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said:

"At a time when public finances are being squeezed, it makes no sense to hand over £100million to supermarket shareholders. We need to invest in alcohol education and treatment."

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association claim that the policy will punish even modest consumers.

Will minimum unit pricing policy help solve some of Glasgow's entrenched social and other drink-related problems? Please post your opinion...

GG.

[Jupiter]

Now that this is about to become a reality I cannot see the Licensed Trade and the big supermarkets just accepting this and I do expect to see legal issues being raised.No doubt the govt has done its homework and been advised this is legal but Im sure it will end up in the courts.
Supermarkets are bound to make more per bottle but will sales plummet?
Is this the beginning of cross border trips to north England towns to stock up?
Does any of our posters have knowledge of this sort of thing in other countries?
I do know that Norway has punitive taxes on alcohol.

[pumps100]

I'm a convert to minimum alcohol pricing (MAP). Many countries throughout the world implement forms of MAP - for example in Canada many of the provinces have their own regulations.

It has been proven that the relative price of alcohol has a direct correlation to the amount of alcohol consumed. I looked at the practical side of this in the 'three for a tenner' thread below. I think it was post no. 68 - this was based on a notional price of 45p per unit (this is where I still think we will end up). There will be little effect if any other that to rid ourselves of the 3 litres of White Star/supermarket ciders for £1.89 - and supermarket own label spirits.

http://discuss.glasgowguide.co.uk/index.ph...22193&st=60

On the subject of Cider - and I've been doing some research - do you know that 'tax breaks' introduced in 2000 for the UK cider industry means that cider including the high strength 'white' variety can be sold cheaper than fizzy water. A supermarket can make the same gross margin on two bottles of £1.89 'cider' than by selling a bottle of whisky at £12! I always wondered by these allegedly reputable supermarkets sold these alky drinks - it's all about PROFIT!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/201...ense-alcoholics

And as for the common misconception about the price of alcohol when compared to former times studies have shown that alcohol in the UK in 2012 is significantly less costly than it was for example in 1980. This also covered in one of the later posts in 'three for a tenner'.

Regarding minimum alcohol pricing, I always say to people to do the sums before rejecting - I was once a skeptic but please forget knee jerk reactions -it really does make sense, honestly.

Regards

Ian

[norrie123]

In my opinion this wont stop the hardened drinker but may affect the social drinker
me? I will buy what I like and stuff the SNP
I dont drink cheap vodka or cider but no doubt what I drink will rise in price
I can see the sense in raising taxes for the good of the nation but surely this price increase will only benefit the supermarkets or am I missing something

I cant see cross border trips to get cheaper drink but if there is, get me some Malt Whisky

Bye for now, norrie

[Jazzsaxman]

Will this put a stop to a big problem or simply move the burden on to the tax payer elsewhere, as in benefits. I think big brother should stop telling everyone what to do. It is the little termites in the government departments eating away at our freedom and liberties. The countries that tried to find a solution to the people problem ended up with Stalags and Concentration Camps. Is this what we are heading for. They need to deal with trouble makers and stop punishing the decent folk in this country. Of course this is just the easy way out.

[*Guest*]

geezwan

I think that alcohol has been too cheap for a long time. I'm miffed that most beverages will double in price but bottles of wine etc should be seen as an extravagance. Not an everyday thing.

I think it's ridiculous that alcohol has become such a plague on our society and our NHS, I'll be interested to see if this makes any difference to the percentage or drunk and disorderly callouts or A&E etc.

I have a funny feeling it will make sweet f.a of a difference.

[UPYKLT]

Most of the people who are drinking the cheap crap, stole the money to get it in first place, so it isn't going to make the slightest difference to them. It would have been better to provide better education on drinking starting in the schools!

[Weeman]

Help ma boab! Kin ah no' get any peace in ma ain country? I wish all these do-gooders would just leave us alcoholics alone!

I vote for zero % -per-unit alcohol price, that'll sort the greedy supermarkets and government out I'm sure. Why can't us 'alkies' get a decent deal like buy one and get two free? I'd vote for that in a minute!

Scotland the Brave? More like 'Scotland, one of the most politically correct wee countries in the world'.

Fortunately, I'm old and I'll be dead soon - hopefully of alcohol poisoning! (if I can afford it)

[droschke7]

My Local Off Sales charge £4:50 for 4 cans of Tennants and £5 for a bottle of wine what exactly is the 50p unit limit supposed to do? Do these people even go to an off sales?

[droschke7]

I'm a convert to minimum alcohol pricing (MAP). Many countries throughout the world implement forms of MAP - for example in Canada many of the provinces have their own regulations.

It has been proven that the relative price of alcohol has a direct correlation to the amount of alcohol consumed. I looked at the practical side of this in the 'three for a tenner' thread below. I think it was post no. 68 - this was based on a notional price of 45p per unit (this is where I still think we will end up). There will be little effect if any other that to rid ourselves of the 3 litres of White Star/supermarket ciders for £1.89 - and supermarket own label spirits. ...

Easy for you to say Ian But last time i looked Reading wasn't in Scotland,

[*Guest*]

I was born in Glasgow. Now at 56 years young live in Seattle Washington USA.

This is a crazy law. If I want to drink . . . I will drink . . . the increased cost will come from somewhere else . . . unfortunately, if I was younger the wains would have less to eat.

[pumps100]

Here's some sums from what was said in post 68 in the 'three for a tenner' thread. Most people have not clicked the link hence many of the responses.

Note these figures are based on 45p per alcohol unit (I still believe this is where we will end up):-

4 cans of 440ml 5% beer. Units: 8.8 – MP cost £3.96 – Actual cost £4 so no change/effect
1 bottle wine 750ml 13%. Units: 9.75 – MP cost £4.39 – Actual cost c. £4.49 so no change/effect
1 bottle Bells 750ml 40%. . Units: 30 – MP cost £13.50 – Actual about the same so no change/effect
4 cans of 440ml 5% beer. Units: 8.8 – MP cost £3.96 – Actual cost £4 so no change/effect

4 cans of 568ml 5.3% cider. Units: 12 – MP cost £5.40 – Actual Coop cost £4 so would change
1 bottle Tesco Vodka 700ml. Units: 28 – MP cost £12.65 – Actual cost £9.29 so would change
1 bottle (2L) Tesco 'value' cider. Units: 15.2 – MP cost £6.84 – Actual cost £1.69 so would change

With regard to the comment about where I live. If people can recall it was Scotland which was one of the first to introduce the ban in smoking in public places – many other jurisdictions followed on including England. Again following the groundwork done in Scotland, David Cameron has recently announced that his government also plans to introduce Minimum Alcohol Pricing (at 45p).

Regards

Ian

[GG]

In the Scotsman today:

SNP’s minimum pricing plans of 50p 'hands big stores £155m'

Controversial proposals for a sharp increase in plans to raise the minimum price for alcohol from 45p to 50p will hand supermarkets an extra 11 per cent multi-million pound boost in revenue from drink sales, the leader of CBI Scotland has warned.

Iain McMillan's intervention came as health secretary Nicola Sturgeon is today expected to confirm that the SNP government will set the price per unit of alcohol at 50p.

Opponents have previously claimed that the SNP's failed attempt to introduce a 45p per unit price two years ago would lead to a £140 million annual windfall for supermarkets. ...

Full story here:
http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/polit...-155m-1-2292661

GG.

[marty45]

We did't have as many problems with young people getting alcohol before all these wee corner shops sold alcohol. They don't care who they sell it to as long as money is going into the tills. There are so many of them that they can't be regulated. At least in the big supermarkets staff know if they are caught they will get into bother. This government is only giving us more problems because more people will be drinking in the house, we don't have a social life any more, people can't afford it. They are not hitting the underage drinkers who will get alcohol any way. They are hitting the poor men and woman who work and like to go out at the weekend.So many pubs are closing down there will be nowhere to go so the problems will escalate. The licensing board should not be giving out more drinks licences but helping the pubs who already have one. Socialising will be a thing of the past shortly. Again it is the poor working saps who suffer.

[kenb]

it wouldnt bother me if it was £100 per unit , but why always do the right get cuffed by the wrong
kenb