Impact of Minimum Unit Pricing on Alcohol Purchases in Scotland and Wales

In an attempt to reduce consumption of alcohol and the harm it causes, Scotland and Wales introduced minimum unit pricing (MUP) on alcohol purchases. 

Minimum unit price (MUP) is a pricing policy that sets a strength-based threshold price for alcohol products, below which they cannot be legally sold.

This article, published in The Lancet Journal of Public Health examined:

1. If the impact of the introduction of MUP in Scotland was maintained 2 years later
2. Whether the introduction of MUP in Wales  has had an immediate impact on reducing the amount of alcohol purchased
3. Whether lockdown restrictions due to COVID-19 impacted the effects of MUP
4. Whether households that buy small amounts of alcohol, particularly those with low incomes, increase their expenditure on alcohol following the introduction of MUP.

Results from the study found:

• In Scotland, price increases and purchase decreases were maintained during the first half of 2020. 
• In Wales, the introduction of MUP also led to price increases and purchase decreases during the first half of 2020.
• For both Scotland and Wales, reductions in overall purchases of alcohol were largely restricted to households that bought the most alcohol.

The researchers conclude that MUP has a positive impact on reducing the consumption of alcohol and the harm it causes in Scotland and Wales and it should be considered as a positive policy option more widely.