- A bottle of whiskey will cost £14 in Scotland compared to just £10 for a supermarket own-brand in England
- Scottish Health Minister says move will save 500 lives a year
- Price of cider will more than double under proposals, while lager will cost more than £1 a can
By Daily Mail Reporter
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The Scottish Government has announced it wants to set a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol.
The measure is predicted to save 500 lives a year, and will see the price of a standard bottle of wine at 12.5% volume set at a minimum of £4.69 in Scotland, compared to £2.99 for the cheapest bottle of plonk in England.
The proposals raise the prospect of cross-border booze raids from Scots who wish to avoid paying up to two and a half times the current price of alcohol.
The price of a can of strong cider will rise from 45p to at least £1.17 under the planned changes.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon with during a visit to Glasgow Royal Infirmary where she announced the Scottish Government is planning to set a minimum price for alcohol
A 70cl bottle of whisky at 40% will cost no less than £14 - while south of the border a supermarket own-brand bottle won't be much over £10.
HOW MUCH BOOZE WILL COST SCOTS AT 50p A UNIT
Tesco Value vodka, 70cl
26.2 units, now 34p per unit
Now: £8.72, After: £13.13
Tesco Value whisky, 70cl
28 units, now 36p per unit
Now: £9.97, After: £14.00
Tesco Strong dry cider, 4x440ml
9.3 units, now 20p per unit
Now: £1.80, After: £4.67
Tesco Lager, 4x500ml
8 units, now 28p per unit
Now: £2.24, After: £4.00
Tesco Simply Chenin Blanc, 750ml
9.4 units, now 38p per unit
Now: £3.49, After: £4.69
A similar-sized bottle of vodka at 37.5% will be at least £13.13, while it will cost less than £9 in some English supermarkets.
Meanwhile Scots will pay at least £1 for a can of lager while bulk-buy deals in England will knock the price down to around 65p.
Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon made the minimum pricing announcement during a visit to Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
She said: 'Cheap alcohol comes at a price and now is the time to tackle the toll that Scotland's unhealthy relationship with alcohol is taking on our society.
'Too many Scots are drinking themselves to death. The problem affects people of all walks of life.
'It's no coincidence that as affordability has increased, alcohol-related hospital admissions have quadrupled, and it is shocking that half of our prisoners now say they were drunk when they committed the offence. It's time for this to stop.
'Introducing a minimum price per unit will enable us to tackle these problems, given the clear link between affordability and consumption.'
'There is now a groundswell of support for the policy across the medical profession, police forces, alcohol charities and from significant parts of the drinks and licensed trade industry who recognise the benefits minimum pricing can bring - saving lives and reducing crime.'
Raising the price of alcohol is expected to save 500 lives a year in Scotland
The Alcohol Minimum Pricing Bill is making its second passage through the Scottish Parliament after defeat in 2010 when the SNP was in a minority administration.
Labour is the only party not to have supported the revised legislation when it was debated at the first stage in March this year.
Earlier this month, MSPs agreed to a 'sunset clause' meaning the law could be scrapped in six years if the policy does not work.
MSPs have previously banned discount deals such as two-for-one on bottles of wine, restricted "irresponsible" drinks promotions and advertising around premises, and set a requirement for age verification.
The proposed minimum price first time round was 45p per unit.
Ms Sturgeon said: 'Since 45p was first proposed as the minimum price 18 months ago, we have seen inflation of around five per cent. A minimum price of 50p takes this into account and will achieve a similar level of public health benefits t o what 45p would have achieved in 2010.'
Dr Brian Keighley, chairman of the British Medical Association in Scotland, said: 'Despite efforts to encourage responsible retailing by supermarkets, they continue to sell high-alcohol products such as vodka and ciders at ridiculously cheap prices to entice customers to their store.
'The trend for cheap alcohol and excessive consumption has a human cost. Alcohol-related illness causes one death every three hours in Scotland and the total healthcare costs are more than £268 million.
'This increasing cost could cripple the NHS with a financial burden that is no longer sustainable, especially in the current financial climate.
'A minimum price, as part of a wider strategy, could end Scotland's heavy-drinking culture and I am proud that Scotland's politicians are once again leading the world on public health policy.'
A spokesman for Alcohol Concern said: 'With minimum pricing due to b e introduced in England and Wales, the Government in Westminster should follow Scotland’s lead and set the minimum price to at least 50p to make a real difference.'
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I hope Scotland remembers the insult when Salmond has his referendum. Vote SNP and get National Socialism. By the way - I am teetotal. I just don't like my country being insulted by a wee fat nyaff.
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What happens in Scotland will be hitting England directly after. The booze issue has been simmering away for years. Get the people to stop smoking in pubs, shut down the pubs then stop them from enjoying a few drinks at home.The pubs which are still open seem to prefer to serve families with loads of kids. We are working until we drop but our relaxation is slowly being take away and taxed to high heaven. Pathetic.
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Only the heavy drinker will feel the pain, the moderate drinkers with sense for their health, will not make noise...
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Do any other readers think this is just another money making scam? When you go out with your friends you just get a drink not discuss how many pennies it as increased. Anyone wanting alcohol at home will just go and buy some. Price increases are now an everyday thing. When you go to the supermarket do you not buy anything that as increased in price? I do not drink much alcohol but I think this is another get rich quick scam We cannot stop buying a product because of the p
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BREAKING NEWS Tescos in Dumbarton raided by a gang of hoodies all shelves cleared of beers wines and spirits.
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Dear English, All is forgiven, we don't need the Scottish Parliament. Please rule us and tell us what to do again. From, A Sorry Scot
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North of England Tesco, Asda and Waitrose set to make a packet on day outings on coach tours. Some English local authorities are considering doing the same. May end up taking a trip into Wales to buy beer and whiskey.
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It has nothing to do with the price, it's a cultural problem. Scotland has some of the most expensive alchohol in Europe already. Going by the SNP's logic, France, Germany, Spain etc must all be hammered every day of the week!!!
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Attempting to price boozers out of their habit never worked here. I usually have to step over bodies slumped on pavements if I do ever venture out later in the evening. Price alone will not rectify a flawed culture.
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Just heard on the evening news that the introduction of minimum pricing,will not effect the price of alcohol in pubs.This way of course they get the best of both worlds minimum pricing in the shops or should i say a stealth tax,and alcohol duty plus vat in the pubs.
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