Scotland becomes first country to introduce minimum unit alcohol price to cut deaths
Scotland has introduced a minimum unit price for alcohol – the first country in the world to do so.
Retailers must now ensure a unit of alcohol is not priced below 50p, in a government bid to reduce the high number of alcohol-related deaths in the country each year.
It means a standard 750ml 13% bottle of wine cannot be sold for less than £4.88, a 700ml 40% bottle of whisky for £14 and two litres of 5% cider for £5.
The Scottish government has warned retailers there will be no period of grace and that if rules are broken licences could be removed.
Twenty-two people die from alcohol related illnesses in Scotland every week – a problem which costs Scotland’s health system more than £3bn annually.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told Sky News the new law should save lives.
“Over the first five years of this policy the estimate is that several hundred fewer deaths from alcohol will be recorded and we will reduce admissions to hospital,” she said.
“These are statistics, but every single one of these statistics is a human being, with a family, with friends, with a life and if we can save these lives this is a policy definitely worth pursuing.”