Scotland begins min alcohol pricing

Edinburgh, May 1: Scotland on Tuesday became the world’s first country to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol, in what its government expects will be a trailblazing move following years of legal battles.

“Scotland is the first country in the world being bold enough and brave enough to introduce minimum unit pricing,” Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon said.

“I think we will see countries across Europe that will replicate what has been done here in Scotland,” she added, noting Ireland and Wales were eager to roll out similar schemes.

The policy, designed to cut alcohol-related harm, will set a minimum price of 50 pence ($0.70, 0.57 euros) per unit of alcohol.

It has been welcomed by the medical profession and health campaigners as the biggest breakthrough in public health since the ban on smoking in public.

“This legislation will be life-saving,” said Alison Douglas, chief executive of the Alcohol Focus Scotland charity, who predicted it would save 58 lives in the first year.

Audrey Duncan, 37, a recovering alcoholic from Glasgow whose life was devastated by the addiction, said the cheap price of booze had helped fuel it. “I don't think it (minimum pricing) would have put me off but I certainly would have run out of money quicker,” she added.

Retailers said they expected minimal hits on some stock but had long been anticipating the scheme.