25.05.12
Minimum pricing for alcohol passed in Scotland
The introduction of minimum pricing for alcohol could be implemented as soon as April 2013, as the Scottish Parliament passed the Bill for a 50p minimum price per unit.
This is the first legally-binding minimum pricing within Europe, and could be followed byEnglandandWales. The Bill is expected to receive Royal Assent later this month.
Scottish health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “This policy will save lives – it's as simple as that. It is time to turn the tide of alcohol misuse that for too long has been crippling our country. Minimum pricing will kickstart a change by addressing a fundamental part of our alcohol culture – the availability of high-strength, low-cost alcohol.”
Sir Ian Gilmore, RCP special adviser on alcohol and chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, added: “A minimum unit price is the fairest and most targeted way of helping those most at risk of damage to their health – young people and the heaviest drinkers.
“We are especially pleased that the Scottish Government has agreed a minimum unit price of 50p. At this level it will have a significant impact and we hope that Westminster will follow suit.
“The evidence shows that by increasing the price, reducing the availability, and tackling the aggressive marketing of alcohol, we can reduce the burden of alcohol-related health harm.”
The legislation will mean that whisky will cost a minimum of £14 a bottle, average strength wine will cost £4.69, four cans of own-brand supermarket lager £3.52 and standard strength vodka £13.13 a bottle.
A study by health experts atSheffieldUniversity estimated that a 50p minimum price would save about 60 lives in the first year and 300 within a decade. The cumulative social and economic benefits would see a “harm reduction” worth £942m within 10 years.
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The introduction of minimum pricing for alcohol could be implemented as soon as April 2013, as the Scottish Parliament passed the Bill for a 50p minimum price per unit.
This is the first legally-binding minimum pricing within Europe, and could be followed byEnglandandWales. The Bill is expected to receive Royal Assent later this month.
Scottish health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “This policy will save lives – it's as simple as that. It is time to turn the tide of alcohol misuse that for too long has been crippling our country. Minimum pricing will kickstart a change by addressing a fundamental part of our alcohol culture – the availability of high-strength, low-cost alcohol.”
Sir Ian Gilmore, RCP special adviser on alcohol and chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, added: “A minimum unit price is the fairest and most targeted way of helping those most at risk of damage to their health – young people and the heaviest drinkers.
“We are especially pleased that the Scottish Government has agreed a minimum unit price of 50p. At this level it will have a significant impact and we hope that Westminster will follow suit.
“The evidence shows that by increasing the price, reducing the availability, and tackling the aggressive marketing of alcohol, we can reduce the burden of alcohol-related health harm.”
The legislation will mean that whisky will cost a minimum of £14 a bottle, average strength wine will cost £4.69, four cans of own-brand supermarket lager £3.52 and standard strength vodka £13.13 a bottle.
A study by health experts atSheffieldUniversity estimated that a 50p minimum price would save about 60 lives in the first year and 300 within a decade. The cumulative social and economic benefits would see a “harm reduction” worth £942m within 10 years.