SCOTLAND makes history today as it becomes the first country to implement a minimum unit price for alcohol.
The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon hailed the policy, designed to cut alcohol-related harm, as “bold and brave” as it was finally brought in across the country.
READ MORE: Minimum pricing could spell end of Frosty Jack's sales
The first Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act was passed by MSPs at Holyrood in 2012.
The Scottish Government confirmed in February this year it would set the baseline price for alcohol at 50p a unit.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon - today, Scotland leads the world on minimum pricing
Ministers believe MUP will mostly affect the cheap white ciders and value spirits with high alcohol content that tend to be favoured by harmful drinkers.
The Government has assured customers buying alcohol they won’t have to do anything different as minimum unit pricing starts.
READ MORE: SNP urged to set minimum price for alcohol even higher
Many alcohol products already cost more than 50p a unit, so consumers may find the drinks they buy at bars, restaurants and shops will cost the same as they did before.
However, cheaper drinks with high alcohol content will become more expensive.
READ MORE: The EU official who said alcohol minimum pricing could be ruled out
Here’s what your carry out will set you back from today, according to the Scottish Grocers Federation’s Minimum Unit Pricing Calculator:
Frosty Jack’s 3L bottle - was £3.59, now £11.25
White Strike 3L - £11.25
Diamond White 2L bottle - was £3.79, now £7.50
Westons Scrumpy Cloudy Cider 2L bottle - £7.50
Crofters Apple Cider 2L - £5.00
Strongbow 2L bottle - £5
Lambrini 150CL bottle - was £3, now £5.65
Whisky 70CL bottle - £14
The Famous Grouse 1L bottle - £20
Smirnoff and Glen’s vodka 1L bottle - £18.75
Tesco Imperial Vodka 70CL bottle - was £11, now £13.13
Tennent’s Super Lager/Carlsberg Special Brew 500ml can - £2.00
Tennent’s Lager 568ml can - £1.14
Four 440ml cans of 5% strength lager - £4.40
A bottle of wine of 14.5% alcohol strength - £5.44
Blossom Hill 75CL bottle - £4.31
The Evening Times always encourages its readers to drink responsibly. Please click here to be taken to the Drinkaware website for help and advice.
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel