BBC News - Scottish government reintroduces alcohol pricing bill

Plans to reintroduce a minimum price for a unit of alcohol in Scotland are set to be announced by ministers.

Official figures have suggested Scots drink more than people in other parts of the UK.

A first attempt by the SNP to push through a similar price proposal failed during the last parliament.

MSPs rejected the idea before the May election, but after the SNP's majority win at that poll the fresh plan is set to become law before next summer.

The debate around minimum pricing has proved one of the most contentious issues the Scottish Parliament has had to discuss.

During the first attempt to bring forward the legislation, the SNP minority government proposed setting the minimum price at 45p per unit.

That would have resulted in;

• an own-brand bottle of vodka increasing in price from from £8.35 to £11.85
• a two-litre bottle of cider going up from £1.20 to £3.75
• and the cost of a bottle of wine moving from £3.75 to £4.20

The 45p proposal was rejected, and it is unclear at this stage what new price the government will put forward.

It is understood a figure will be suggested in the new year, after more research is carried out.

Scotland's health secretary, Nicola Sturgeon, promised her party's annual conference on 21 October that a new minimum pricing on alcohol bill would be back before MSPs "within the month".

Ms Sturgeon is expected to speak about the pricing plan when she visits Glasgow's Gartnavel Royal Hospital, where there is a specialist unit to tackle alcohol misuse.

The Scottish government has estimated that the country's alcohol problems cost £3.56bn each year - or £900 for every adult.

via bbc.co.uk

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