Public support for minimum alcohol pricing has increased to its highest-ever level, new analysis suggests.

Just under half of those surveyed in 2019 backed the policy, in the year after it came into force, compared to 41% in 2013.

Meanwhile the proportion against MUP, which requires shops to sell alcohol at 50p or more per unit, dropped from 33% in 2013 to 28% in 2019

Numbers who do not have an opinion stayed broadly stable at 22% over the period.

The analysis was published today by Public Health Scotland, which looked at results from surveys in 2013, 2015 and 2018.

The most common reason for backing MUP was a wish to reduce harm caused by drinking.

However those opposed felt people would continue drinking regardless of the price.

Scotland passed the law in 2010 but only implemented it in 2018 after an unsuccessful legal challenge by the Scotch Whisky Association.

The policy was praised by the World Health Organization in a recent report looking at alcohol harm across Europe.

Evaluations of the scheme have suggested sales of cheap high-strength cider have been hardest hit.

Dr Karl Ferguson, Public Health Intelligence Advisor at Public Health Scotland, said: “These findings from the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey show the public is generally more in favour of MUP than against, and that attitudes appear to have grown more favourable over the timeframe during which the policy was implemented.

“While there are a number of possible explanations for why attitudes have grown more favourable, one interpretation is that the public’s understanding of the policy and what it means for them has improved.

“A related possible explanation is that some concerns the public may have held prior to implementation have not been observed. For example, MUP did not increase prices across the board in the off-and on-trades, as it only directly influences the pricing of a minority of off-trade products.

This study is one of a number in the on-going evaluation of MUP which develops our understanding of the wider impact of the policy’s implementation.”

 

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