Scotland - Minimum Unit Price Guidance

The Scottish Government has updated its guidance on the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP).

A minimum unit price for alcohol is due start on 1 May 2018. The Scottish Government has proposed a price per unit of 50p to the Scottish Parliament. If the Parliament agrees, from 1 May 2018 all alcoholic drinks must cost at least 50p per unit. Anyone with a licence to sell alcohol will not be allowed to sell it cheaper than this.

This covers both:

• retailers that sell alcohol for drinking off the premises (like newsagents and supermarkets)
• places that sell alcohol for drinking on the premises (like pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants)

The guidance makes it clear that there will be no 'period of grace' allowed for carrying out minimum unit pricing – operators must be selling alcohol at the right price on 1 May 2018 with no exceptions.

Wholesalers don't need to comply with minimum unit pricing if they only carry out trade-to-trade business. Guidance for wholesalers is being drafted by the Scottish Wholesale Association and will be available on the link below when published.

The guidance also makes it clear that the people responsible for making sure the minimum unit price is followed are:

• the premises licence holder
• premises managers
• staff working on the licensed premises

If MUP is not followed this could lead to a review of the premises licence.

The guidance can be found here:  https://www.mygov.scot/minimum-unit-pricing/