Government urged to put alcohol unit pricing on hold

Industry leaders have urged the government to delay alcohol minimum unit pricing (MUP) outside Scotland as legislation edges closer south of the border.

Ministers from the health and home affairs select committees heard evidence on the policy’s effectiveness at a parliamentary hearing on Monday, ahead of MUP’s introduction in Scotland from May and in Wales this summer. 

The Scottish government is expected to set its minimum price per unit at 50p, with Wales yet to decide its figure. The 50p level would see a three-litre bottle of cider containing 22.5 units, currently on sale at around £3.60, jump to £11.

Rosanna O’Connor, director of alcohol, drugs and tobacco at Public Health England, said the policy would target the country’s most vulnerable drinkers.

“Around 4.4% of the population are drinking just under a third of the alcohol consumed in this country. That’s around two million drinking just over 30% of the alcohol,” she said, adding this group is mainly drinking very cheap, high-strength alcohol such as cider or spirits. Also speaking in support of the move, Sergeant Mick Urwin, co-chair of the National Police Chiefs Council Licensing Sub-group said 40% of all violent crime in the UK is alcohol related.  

However, in a later, separate hearing Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine & Spirits Trade Association, urged ministers to delay extending the policy until its effectiveness had been proved in Scotland.

“We have a test case in Scotland. Why would we not wait five years and see the outcome there before deciding what happens next?” he said, adding that MUP was an untargeted, blanket measure. “The only thing you might be able to claim is that it is targets poor people,” he added.

Mo Razzaq, who owns two stores in Blantyre, said: “I don’t think price is a big factor for serious drinkers and I would also be worried about the rise of illicit trade. But I do think it will help level the playing field between smaller shops and the multiples on pricing.”