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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Minimum alcohol pricing in Scotland to start in May | Minimum alcohol pricing in Scotland to start in May |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Scotland will introduce minimum pricing for alcohol on 1 May next year, the Scottish government has announced. | Scotland will introduce minimum pricing for alcohol on 1 May next year, the Scottish government has announced. |
| The move will raise the cost of the strongest, cheapest alcohol by setting a minimum price per unit. | The move will raise the cost of the strongest, cheapest alcohol by setting a minimum price per unit. |
| Health Secretary Shona Robison told MSPs that she expected the price to be set at 50p-per-unit, but this will be subject to a consultation. | Health Secretary Shona Robison told MSPs that she expected the price to be set at 50p-per-unit, but this will be subject to a consultation. |
| She said the measure was needed to tackle the "devastation" caused by cheap, high-strength alcohol. | She said the measure was needed to tackle the "devastation" caused by cheap, high-strength alcohol. |
| The 50p-per-unit minimum would raise the price of the cheapest bottle of red wine (9.4 units of alcohol) to £4.69, while a four-pack of 500ml cans of 4% lager (8 units) would cost at least £4 and a 70cl bottle of whisky (28 units of alcohol) could not be sold for less than £14. | The 50p-per-unit minimum would raise the price of the cheapest bottle of red wine (9.4 units of alcohol) to £4.69, while a four-pack of 500ml cans of 4% lager (8 units) would cost at least £4 and a 70cl bottle of whisky (28 units of alcohol) could not be sold for less than £14. |
| Normal strength cider (5% ABV) would cost at least £2.50 a litre but a super-strength version (7.5% ABV) would have to cost a minimum of £3.75 for a litre. | Normal strength cider (5% ABV) would cost at least £2.50 a litre but a super-strength version (7.5% ABV) would have to cost a minimum of £3.75 for a litre. |
| Key weapon | Key weapon |
| Minimum pricing is largely aimed at cheap lager, cider and spirits sold in supermarkets and off-licences. | |
| But it would leave more expensive drinks unaffected, and is unlikely to impact on sales in pubs and clubs. | But it would leave more expensive drinks unaffected, and is unlikely to impact on sales in pubs and clubs. |
| The Scottish government views the measure as a key weapon in the battle against binge drinking, with people in Scotland said to buy 20% more alcohol on average than those in England and Wales. | The Scottish government views the measure as a key weapon in the battle against binge drinking, with people in Scotland said to buy 20% more alcohol on average than those in England and Wales. |
| Alcohol Focus Scotland research from last year suggested that the maximum recommended weekly intake of alcohol - 14 units - could be bought for just £2.52, with super-strength cider and own-brand vodka and whisky available from as little as 18p per unit of alcohol. | Alcohol Focus Scotland research from last year suggested that the maximum recommended weekly intake of alcohol - 14 units - could be bought for just £2.52, with super-strength cider and own-brand vodka and whisky available from as little as 18p per unit of alcohol. |