Scotland ends cheap booze era with minimum price

SCOTLAND introduced minimum pricing for alcohol yesterday, in what First Minister Nicola Sturgeon hailed as a bold and brave policy move that has endured years of legal battles.

The Scottish leader said she expected other nations to enact similar policies, which will set a minimum price according to the alcohol content of a drink.

“Already we know that Wales and Ireland are wanting to take forward unit pricing policies of their own,” Sturgeon said.

“But as we see the benefits of these policies that have been predicted in modelling and in evidence start to be felt in real life, then I think we will see countries across Europe and further afield look to replicate what has been done here in Scotland.”

Some form of minimum pricing for alcohol is active in six countries: Canada, some US states, Russia, Moldova, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

The Scottish policy, designed to cut issues around alcohol-related harm, will set a minimum price of 50 pence (R8.50) 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,” Alison Douglas, chief executive of the Alcohol Focus Scotland charity, who predicted it would save 58 lives in the first year, said.

“But the effect builds over time and by year 20 – which is full effect – it will save 121 lives in Scotland.”

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 said.

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