The Scots clamp down on heavy drinking
The Scottish government announced in May 2012 that its preferred minimum price for alcohol will be GBP 0.50 per unit (EUR 0.63). Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon was quoted as saying that, at this level, the price was equivalent to the GBP 0.45 per unit price set in 2010 after taking account of inflation. Setting the price at this level would have significant health and social benefits, she added. Under the new legislation, a bottle of wine would cost at least GBP 4.69 (EUR 5.87) and a four-pack of lager at least GBP 3.52 (EUR 4.40).
The Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill is shortly to start the final stage of the parliamentary process in Scotland. The bill looks to set a minimum price for a unit of alcohol as a condition of licence. It also sets the formula for calculating the minimum price (based on the strength of the alcohol, the volume of the alcohol and a price per unit of alcohol).
According to a minimum pricing modelling study carried out by the University of Sheffield in England, it is estimated that in the first year, introducing a minimum price of GBP 0.50 would see:
* 60 fewer deaths
* 1,600 fewer hospital admissions
* A total value of harm reduction of GBP 64 million (EUR 80 million)
* Around 3,500 fewer crimes per year.
Support for minimum pricing has come from all quarters – the Welsh Government, Northern Ireland Executive, the majority of the health and sport committee, the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, all 17 of Scotland’s public health directors in NHS Scotland, the British Medical Association, the Royal Colleges, ACPOS, Scottish Licensed Trade Association, Church of Scotland, various children’s charities, and brewers Tennents and Greene King, UK media report.
As if to prove that they mean what they preach, the Scots will also introduce a tougher new drink-driving law later this year. Ministers north of the border have approved a stricter drink-drive limit – lowering the legal level of alcohol from 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood (the legal limit in England and Wales) to 50 mg.
The new law means some people will be over the limit after drinking just one pint of strong lager or a glass of wine.
