Scottish Minimum Unit Pricing - Update

Following the end of the consultation by the Scottish executive as to the continuation or modification of minimum unit pricing in Scotland there are strong rumours as to the new level.

It is being widely leaked that there will be an increase in the level and this could be as much as 30%.

Ministers are expected to confirm very shortly that the new figure will be 65p.

This will always be a hotly debated topic with both sides producing statistics to support their opinion. Public Health Scotland has stated that minimum pricing is associated with a 13.5% fall in deaths, whilst others state Scotland has experienced a 25% rise in alcohol-related deaths in the past 3 years.

Whatever it looks as if the figure will increase and if at the rate leaked it will mean a standard bottle of whisky in Scotland will be £18.20, vodka £16.90 and a four-pack of basic lager £4.58.

As soon as the position is confirmed we will update.