Minimum Unit Pricing in Scotland

Understanding MUP

Minimum unit pricing (MUP) was designed to reduce alcohol-related harm in Scotland, by reducing consumption levels among harmful and hazardous drinkers, and by reducing the overall population level of consumption.
MUP for alcohol sets the lowest price for which a unit of alcohol can be sold.
MUP was implemented in Scotland in May 2018 at a rate of 50p per unit.
The policy was subject to a sunset clause, which meant it would lapse unless renewed by the Scottish Parliament by end of April 2024.
In April, the Scottish Parliament voted to maintain and uprate MUP to 65p per unit in Scotland.

MUP reduced alcohol consumption by 3% in the three years after implementation.
People who bought the most alcohol before MUP reduced their purchasing the most.
MUP reduced deaths directly caused by alcohol consumption by an estimated 13.4%, equivalent to 156 fewer deaths per year.
MUP reduced hospital admissions by an estimated 4.1%, equivalent to 411 fewer hospital admissions per year.
Reductions were greatest for men and those living in the most deprived areas, helping to address alcohol-related health inequalities.

The Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy (MESAS) monitoring reports were published annually by Public Health Scotland (PHS) and brought together the latest available data on key alcohol indicators in Scotland. These reports, as well as more infromation about MESAS can be found here: Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy (MESAS) – Alcohol – Health topics – Public Health Scotland