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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Supermarket alcohol cost up 18% under minimum pricing | Supermarket alcohol cost up 18% under minimum pricing |
| (3 months later) | |
| Before minimum pricing, Scottish supermarkets usually had lower alcohol costs than convenience stores | Before minimum pricing, Scottish supermarkets usually had lower alcohol costs than convenience stores |
| The cost of a unit of alcohol in Scottish supermarkets went up by nearly 18% after minimum unit pricing was introduced, a study has found. | The cost of a unit of alcohol in Scottish supermarkets went up by nearly 18% after minimum unit pricing was introduced, a study has found. |
| The average price rose from 56p to 66p in the year after minimum unit pricing (MUP) came into effect in May 2018. | The average price rose from 56p to 66p in the year after minimum unit pricing (MUP) came into effect in May 2018. |
| Before MUP supermarkets tended to have lower prices than convenience stores. | Before MUP supermarkets tended to have lower prices than convenience stores. |
| Public Health Scotland (PHS) found that alcohol costs in supermarkets increased more than smaller shops, meaning that both were at a similar pricing level. | Public Health Scotland (PHS) found that alcohol costs in supermarkets increased more than smaller shops, meaning that both were at a similar pricing level. |
| The average price of a unit of alcohol in convenience stores increased from 63p to 67p, a rise of 6.3%. | The average price of a unit of alcohol in convenience stores increased from 63p to 67p, a rise of 6.3%. |
| Minimum unit alcohol price has 'lasting impact' | Minimum unit alcohol price has 'lasting impact' |
| 'Notable' fall in Scotland's alcohol death rate | 'Notable' fall in Scotland's alcohol death rate |
| MUP requires all licensed premises in Scotland to set a minimum price of 50p per unit, otherwise alcohol cannot be sold. | MUP requires all licensed premises in Scotland to set a minimum price of 50p per unit, otherwise alcohol cannot be sold. |
| The biggest increases were for ciders and supermarket own-brand spirits, which were previously low-priced relative to their high alcohol content. | The biggest increases were for ciders and supermarket own-brand spirits, which were previously low-priced relative to their high alcohol content. |
| Before minimum pricing, these were typically sold for less than 50p per unit. | Before minimum pricing, these were typically sold for less than 50p per unit. |
| However, products with small price rises, such as ready-to-drink cans like Dragon Soop and products that decreased in price, such as Buckfast, saw increased sales. | However, products with small price rises, such as ready-to-drink cans like Dragon Soop and products that decreased in price, such as Buckfast, saw increased sales. |
| Sales of Buckfast increased in the first year of MUP | Sales of Buckfast increased in the first year of MUP |
| In convenience stores, Buckfast fell in price by 3.1%, from 66p to 64p per unit. | In convenience stores, Buckfast fell in price by 3.1%, from 66p to 64p per unit. |
| According to the PHS, Buckfast sales per-adult increased by 40% in the first year of minimum pricing. | According to the PHS, Buckfast sales per-adult increased by 40% in the first year of minimum pricing. |
| There was a reduction in the amount of ciders and own-brand spirits sold in bottles of one litre and above. | There was a reduction in the amount of ciders and own-brand spirits sold in bottles of one litre and above. |
| Sales of large multipacks of lager and cider also declined, while sales of smaller multipacks increased. | Sales of large multipacks of lager and cider also declined, while sales of smaller multipacks increased. |
| Dr Karl Ferguson, public health intelligence adviser at Public Health Scotland, said: "In the first 12 months after MUP we found that - especially for products that were below 50p per unit of alcohol - prices went up, the amount sold in larger container sizes went down and sales also declined. | Dr Karl Ferguson, public health intelligence adviser at Public Health Scotland, said: "In the first 12 months after MUP we found that - especially for products that were below 50p per unit of alcohol - prices went up, the amount sold in larger container sizes went down and sales also declined. |
| "We also found that because of the price increase, even in instances where the volume of sales went down, the value of sales remained fairly constant or increased." | "We also found that because of the price increase, even in instances where the volume of sales went down, the value of sales remained fairly constant or increased." |
| 'Problem drinking' | 'Problem drinking' |
| Scotland became the first country in the world to bring in minimum unit pricing for alcohol in May 2018. | Scotland became the first country in the world to bring in minimum unit pricing for alcohol in May 2018. |
| It targeted low-cost, high-strength beverages, seen as a source of problem drinking. | It targeted low-cost, high-strength beverages, seen as a source of problem drinking. |
| Research by Manchester Metropolitan University last year suggested MUP had a minimal impact on drink-related crime. | Research by Manchester Metropolitan University last year suggested MUP had a minimal impact on drink-related crime. |
| In response to the PHS study, Alison Douglas, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland said: "Increasing the price of alcohol is one of the most effective and cost-effective policy measures to reduce alcohol consumption and harm. | In response to the PHS study, Alison Douglas, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland said: "Increasing the price of alcohol is one of the most effective and cost-effective policy measures to reduce alcohol consumption and harm. |
| "This research shows that people in Scotland respond to price. We have changed what we buy and reduced how much we buy due to minimum unit pricing." | "This research shows that people in Scotland respond to price. We have changed what we buy and reduced how much we buy due to minimum unit pricing." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Alcohol | Alcohol |
| Scotland | |
| Minimum alcohol pricing | Minimum alcohol pricing |