MSPs have agreed to raise the minimum price of a unit of alcohol by 30%.

The price per unit, which was previously 50p, has now increased to 65p.

It means a standard 70cl, 37.5% ABV bottle vodka will cost at least £17.07, while a 75cl of red wine at 12.5% ABV will be at least £6.09.

Four cans of 500ml lager at 4% ABV will now cost at least £5.20 and a bottle of 70cl whisky, at 40% ABV, will cost more than £18.

Insufficient evidence to support MUP

The latest figures available (2022) showed there were 1,276 deaths due to alcohol, the highest since 2008.

It's been argued by the Scottish Grocers Federation (SGF) that analysis made on MUP has "not been sufficient", along with changes to drinking habits since CV19, to justify the increase.

"Restrictions and higher prices inevitably come at a greater cost to doing business, putting more pressure on budgets and struggling household incomes."

Dr Sandesh Gulhane, the Scottish Conservatives health spokesman, added: "It is clear, contrary to SNP government claims, that MUP is not the silver bullet for problem drinking.

“It (MUP) has failed to curb alcohol-related deaths in Scotland, which have soared to their highest levels since 2008."

'MUP has saved hundreds of lives'

Scotland became the first country in the world to introduce a minimum pricing unit on alcohol when it did so in May 2018.

Around 24 people die each week in Scotland as a result of alcohol, while 700 people are hospitalised every seven days.

Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) is estimated to have saved 150 lives per year since its introduction, and about 400 hospital admissions.

But Deputy First Minister Shona Robison argued: "Research commended by internationally-renowned public health experts estimated that our world-leading Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) policy has saved hundreds of lives, likely averted hundreds of alcohol-attributable hospital admissions and contributed to reducing health inequalities."

The new increase is set to come into force on September 30, 2024.

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