Discontent escalates over proposed price hikes, allegedly intended to further burden Scottish alcohol consumers.

Discontent escalates over proposed price hikes, allegedly intended to further burden Scottish alcohol consumers.

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Scotland Braces for More Booze Hikes as SNP Amps Up Minimum Alcohol Pricing

Scotland's drinking community faces another financial hit as the SNP pushes ahead with plans to increase the minimum pricing of alcohol. A proposed policy change would automatically escalate the levy without the need for routine parliamentary approval.

Experts are urging the Scottish government to regularly adjust the tax, creating a system that kicks into action without further political debate. More than 70 organizations, including Alcohol Focus Scotland, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, the Royal College of General Practitioners, and the Royal College of Nursing, back radical measures to tackle alcohol misuse.

The experts argue that alcohol is linked to over 100 illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, and liver disease. A new report, released ahead of John Swinney's program for government next Thursday (MAY 6), proposes "automatic uprating" of the minimum unit price (MUP) to optimize the policy's effectiveness in improving health outcomes.

Under the current policy, the initial price is 50p per unit of alcohol, but it was increased to 65p in April 2024. The suggested changes could see the minimum price altered each year, with the new price rising automatically without additional approval from parliament or ministers.

Scots already pay up to 67% more for alcohol than drinkers south of the border, and the hike in the minimum price to 65p means a 12.5% volume bottle of wine can no longer be sold for less than £4.69, a price that rose by £1.40 to £6.09 in 2023. The bottom shelf standard bottle of blended whisky has soared from £14 to £18.20.

The new report also calls for reforms to the licensing of off-trade and online sales, a cap on alcohol marketing, and stricter restrictions on advertising in public spaces, sport, and event sponsorships. Additionally, the experts advocate for mandatory health warnings on alcohol products.

Laura Mahon, acting chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, noted, "We need concrete measures to prevent the rise in alcohol-related deaths. Now we need to see clear leadership and investment." The experts caution that alcohol takes a tremendous toll on Scotland's economy, costing an estimated £10 billion annually.

Critics argue that pushing prices up even more might disproportionately punish responsible drinkers amid a cost-of-living crisis. Scottish Tory alcohol spokesperson Annie Wells stated, "The SNP's minimum unit pricing policy is a blunt instrument to tackle the complex problem of rising alcohol deaths. Automatically hiking alcohol prices without proper scrutiny would only exacerbate the struggling economy."

Health Secretary Neil Gray defended the government's stance, saying, "We remain focused on reducing alcohol-related harm and deaths. Early detection of liver disease is a priority, and research suggests our world-leading Minimum Unit Pricing policy has saved hundreds of lives and averted thousands of alcohol-related hospital admissions."

Despite the controversy, the threat of an ongoing alcohol crisis places pressure on the Scottish Government to address the issue, potentially leading to further adjustments to the MUP policy.

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1. The Scottish government is pushing for increased minimum alcohol pricing, aiming to optimize the policy's effectiveness in improving health outcomes.
2. Over 70 organizations, including medical bodies, support radical measures to tackle alcohol misuse.
3. Alcohol is linked to over 100 illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease, liver disease, and more.
4. A new report proposes automatic uprating of the minimum unit price (MUP) to achieve this improvement.
5. Under the current policy, the minimum price of alcohol is 50p per unit, but it will increase to 65p in April 2024.
6. The suggested changes could see the minimum price altered each year, and the new price could rise automatically without additional approval.
7. Scots already pay up to 67% more for alcohol than drinkers south of the border, and the hike in the minimum price to 65p will significantly increase prices.
8. Reforms to the licensing of off-trade and online sales, a cap on alcohol marketing, and stricter advertising restrictions are also proposed.
9. Experts advocate for mandatory health warnings on alcohol products to educate consumers.
10. Laura Mahon, acting chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, emphasized the need for concrete measures to prevent alcohol-related deaths.
11. The experts warn that alcohol takes a tremendous toll on Scotland's economy, costing an estimated £10 billion annually.
12. Critics argue that pushing prices up even more might disproportionately punish responsible drinkers amid a cost-of-living crisis.
13. Scottish Tory alcohol spokesperson Annie Wells stated that the SNP's minimum unit pricing policy is a blunt instrument to tackle the complex problem of rising alcohol deaths.
14. Health Secretary Neil Gray defended the government's stance, saying the focus remains on reducing alcohol-related harm and deaths.
15. Early detection of liver disease is a priority, and research suggests the Minimum Unit Pricing policy has saved hundreds of lives.
16. The ongoing alcohol crisis places pressure on the Scottish Government to address the issue, potentially leading to further adjustments to the MUP policy.
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18. The relationship between Meghan Markle and Prince Harry was encapsulated in two words, gaining over 102.6k views.
19. Meghan Markle teased that the school run is "like climbing Everest."
20. A video showing Meghan Markle discussing her grueling school run received 2.2k views.
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