Can minimum unit pricing increase nudge Scotland into drinking less?

From the end of this month, cheap alcohol in Scotland is going to be more expensive. An increase in the controversial minimum unit pricing (MUP) will kick into effect on Monday, September 30, adding an extra 15 pence to the baseline price of a unit of booze. The increase means the cheapest a 13.

5% abv bottle of wine can be sold for in Scottish shops will rise from just over a fiver to nearly £6.60. The cheapest 500ml can of 4.

5% beer will jump from £1.13 to nearly £1.50.

Your cheapest bottle of whisky? Up from £14 to £18.20. Scotland’s poor record when it comes to drinking habits The increases are significant and unlikely to be popular.

A P&J shout-out for readers’ views to the upcoming move. The policy is part of the Scottish Government’s plan to encourage the country to reduce its relatively high rates of alcohol consumption. The initial MUP, , was a global first for Scotland in terms of policy – and with good reason.

One-fifth of Scottish drinkers consume seven or more units of alcohol in a typical drinking day, higher than the 16% of all UK drinkers, . put Scots top of a list of 25 countries in terms of how often people get drunk. Scots also score highly when it comes to alcoholism and related deaths, but extreme and dangerous drinking are not the intended targets of MUP.

Backed heavily by the SNP, the policy is more about gently pushing people into making better health choices, explains Fraser Hoggan, CEO of Aberdeen-based charity Alcohol & Drugs Action. “.