Question reference: S6W-26493
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 26 March 2024
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Current status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 16 April 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what public information campaigns or actions it will undertake in advance of the proposed increase in alcohol minimum unit pricing in autumn 2024, to minimise the potential of any friction between customers and shop staff.
Answer
The Scottish Government laid legislation seeking the agreement of the Scottish Parliament to continue Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP), and set the price per unit at 65 pence on 19 February 2024. Members of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee voted to approve those orders on 26 March 2024 and I am pleased that there is cross party support for this policy.
The Scottish Government undertook an awareness raising campaign in 2018 before the original implementation of MUP, and we will take learning from that approach.
We are currently considering different options regarding public information campaigns and direct communications with businesses around the proposed changes to the minimum unit price of alcohol. These will be finalised after the sunset clause vote by the Scottish Parliament, which must take place before 30 April 2024.