The Committee reports to the Parliament as follows-

1. The Alcohol (Minimum Price per Unit) (Scotland) Order 2018 [Draft] was laid before the Parliament on 1 March 2018 and referred to the Health and Sport Committee.

2. The Alcohol (Minimum Price per Unit) (Scotland) Order 2018 [Draft] is subject to affirmative procedure (Rule 10.6). It is for the Health and Sport Committee to recommend to Parliament whether the Regulations should be approved.

3. This Order is made under paragraphs 6A(4) and (6) of schedule 3 and paragraphs 5A(4) and (6) of schedule 4 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 (“the 2005 Act”). Subject to Parliamentary approval it will come into force on 1 May 2018.

4. The Order specifies the minimum price per unit for alcohol (50 pence). This applies for the purpose of calculating the minimum price of alcohol relevant to the licensing conditions in paragraph 6A of schedule 3 and paragraph 5A of schedule 4 of the 2005 Act which provide that alcohol may not be sold at a price below the minimum (article 2).

5. The Order also specifies relevant labelling provisions for the purpose of those licensing conditions. These are the Food Information (Scotland) Regulations 2014 which regulate indications of the alcoholic strength of beverages set out on labels (including for example tags, marks etc.) on bottles or containers of alcohol (article 3).

6. The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee considered this instrument at its meeting on 13 March 2018 and agreed that it did not need to draw it to the attention of the Parliament on any grounds within its remit.

   Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee, 12th Report, 2018 (Session 5)

7. At the Health and Sport Committee's 12th meeting, on 17 April 2018, the Committee took evidence on the Alcohol (Minimum Price per Unit) (Scotland) Order 2018 [Draft] from -

   • Shona Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport;

   • Daniel Kleinberg, Head of Health Improvement, Scottish Government;

   • Louise Feenie, Alcohol Policy Team Leader, Scottish Government;

   • Marjorie Marshall, Economic adviser, Scottish Government; and

   • Lindsay Anderson, Solicitor, Scottish Government.

8. Motion S5M-11141 was lodged by Shona Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport. Following the evidence session, Shona Robison moved the motion S5M-11141-

   That the Health and Sport Committee recommends that the Alcohol (Minimum Price per Unit) (Scotland) Order 2018 [draft] be approved.

   The motion was agreed to without division.

9. The evidence taken and debated can be found in the Official Report for 17 April 2018.