Half of Scots back minimum unit price

Half of Scots are in favour of the minimum unit pricing (MUP) of alcohol, a new survey suggests.

Analysis by Public Health Scotland of the 2019 Scottish social attitudes survey found 50 percent of the 1,022 people asked supported the measure, compared to 28 per cent who did not. Coming into effect in 2018, the measure meant each unit of alco - hol must cost at least 50p in a bid to raise the price of high-strength drinks to tackle alcoholism north of the Border.

Another study released in June showed alcohol sales had dropped by 5 per cent since the implementation of the policy.

Dr Karl Ferguson, the public health intelligence adviser at Public Health Scotland, said :“These findings from the Scottish social attitudes survey show the public is generally more in favour of MUP than against, and that attitudes appear to have grown more favourable over the timeframe during which the policy was implemented.”

Public perception of the legislation has changed from 2015 when 41 per cent of 1,288 people were in favour. A report published alongside the findings suggested the shift in public attitude could be to do with a deep er understanding of what the policy means for individuals.