On the 30th September, Scotland will raise the minimum unit price of alcohol (MUP) from 50p to 65p. We are told this is about curbing overconsumption, about keeping alcohol from becoming the default escape as inflation pushes prices higher on everything else. I stand with the government in this case, but will this policy save lives, avert deaths, trim the edges of addiction and alcohol-related illness? Is it really enough?
MUP does not generate tax revenue for the government and only sets a minimum price on the cheapest and strongest alcohols. Former Deputy First Minister Shona Robison explained that the increase is driven not only by inflation, but also by the need for policies that address the increasing alcohol-related health issues in Scotland. There were 1,276 alcohol-specific deaths registered in Scotland in 2022, an increase of 2% (31 deaths) in 2021. In 2022 and 2023, there were 31,206 alcohol-related hospital admissions (stays) in Scotland. 50p per unit set in 2018 definitely seems to have fallen behind inflation, and the health benefits of that minimum price have been eroded.
Ministers have weighed various options, ultimately deciding that 65 per unit is the most effective price that can potentially reduce deaths and harmful drinking levels without significantly harming the alcohol industry. A study by Public Health Scotland, published in June 2023, showed the MUP policy had already reduced alcohol related health inequalities. Comparisons with England suggest that the policy led to 13.4% fewer alcohol-related deaths and 4.1% fewer hospital admissions.
When the 50p MUP was first introduced, critics argued it unfairly targeted low-income individuals by raising the price of the cheapest alcohol. This concern has resurfaced with the planned price increase. Still, experts working with vulnerable drinkers emphasize that pricing alone won’t solve the problem. Broader support services—such as mental health care, housing, and rehabilitation—are essential and must not be reduced.
The Scottish government should not overlook the fact that price is only one factor. It is vital that other services, ranging from mental health support to housing to rehabilitation, are enhanced rather than cut back.
As a university student living on tight budgets, I might start to feel the pinch when buying alcohol for parties or gatherings. But perhaps that’s the point. For a group not yet indulged in harmful drinking habits, this change could nudge them toward something healthier, and maybe this is how Scotland becomes a healthier society.
“Drinks” by urbanreyes is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
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Time to minimise your drinking
On the 30th September, Scotland will raise the minimum unit price of alcohol (MUP) from 50p to 65p. We are told this is about curbing overconsumption, about keeping alcohol from becoming the default escape as inflation pushes prices higher on everything else. I stand with the government in this case, but will this policy save lives, avert deaths, trim the edges of addiction and alcohol-related illness? Is it really enough?
MUP does not generate tax revenue for the government and only sets a minimum price on the cheapest and strongest alcohols. Former Deputy First Minister Shona Robison explained that the increase is driven not only by inflation, but also by the need for policies that address the increasing alcohol-related health issues in Scotland. There were 1,276 alcohol-specific deaths registered in Scotland in 2022, an increase of 2% (31 deaths) in 2021. In 2022 and 2023, there were 31,206 alcohol-related hospital admissions (stays) in Scotland. 50p per unit set in 2018 definitely seems to have fallen behind inflation, and the health benefits of that minimum price have been eroded.
Ministers have weighed various options, ultimately deciding that 65 per unit is the most effective price that can potentially reduce deaths and harmful drinking levels without significantly harming the alcohol industry. A study by Public Health Scotland, published in June 2023, showed the MUP policy had already reduced alcohol related health inequalities. Comparisons with England suggest that the policy led to 13.4% fewer alcohol-related deaths and 4.1% fewer hospital admissions.
When the 50p MUP was first introduced, critics argued it unfairly targeted low-income individuals by raising the price of the cheapest alcohol. This concern has resurfaced with the planned price increase. Still, experts working with vulnerable drinkers emphasize that pricing alone won’t solve the problem. Broader support services—such as mental health care, housing, and rehabilitation—are essential and must not be reduced.
The Scottish government should not overlook the fact that price is only one factor. It is vital that other services, ranging from mental health support to housing to rehabilitation, are enhanced rather than cut back.
As a university student living on tight budgets, I might start to feel the pinch when buying alcohol for parties or gatherings. But perhaps that’s the point. For a group not yet indulged in harmful drinking habits, this change could nudge them toward something healthier, and maybe this is how Scotland becomes a healthier society.
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“Drinks” by urbanreyes is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
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