Abstract
Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the likely impact of the Scottish Government's proposed alcohol minimum unit pricing (MUP) policy on community off-sales outlets (convenience stores or corner shops), and, in turn, on the local people who purchase drinks at such premises. This research adds to our knowledge by linking sales of alcohol products which will be affected by MUP (e.g. at the proposed 50 ppu) to the types of communities where these are the ‘drinks-of-choice’. Methods: A survey of independent community off-sales operating within the city of Glasgow, Scotland (n = 271) returned 144 completed questionnaires enquiring about each shop's customer base, best-selling alcohol products and participating shopkeepers' views on MUP. Responses were measured against current alcohol product prices (i.e. whether potentially affected by MUP) and local levels of socio-economic deprivation. Results: Participating shopkeepers were divided in their support for MUP, although more were in favour than against. Support for MUP tended to be rooted in business concerns. A majority reported having at least one best-selling alcohol product which will be affected by the proposed MUP policy at current prices, with the beverages that would be most affected (e.g. white cider) tending to be best-sellers at shops serving deprived communities. Conclusion: MUP is likely to impact most in socio-economically deprived communities. This is also where alcohol-related health and other inequalities are currently greatest.
Highlights
Alcohol minimum unit pricing (MUP) is a policy mandating the lowest retail price at which alcohol products can be sold
For example, if MUP was set at 30 pence per unit (30 ppu), a drink containing 2 standard units of alcohol could not be sold to customers at a price below £0.60
Monitoring and Evaluating of Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy (MESAS) estimates that the average price of alcohol on-trade is 153 ppu compared with 49 ppu off-trade (Robinson and Beeston, 2013)
Summary
Alcohol minimum unit pricing (MUP) is a policy mandating the lowest retail price at which alcohol products can be sold (i.e. a floor-price). For example, if MUP was set at 30 pence per unit (30 ppu), a drink containing 2 standard units of alcohol could not be sold to customers at a price below £0.60. On the 24 May 2012, the Scottish Government passed the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012, legislation to implement MUP across Scotland at 50 ppu (Scottish Government, 2012a,b). Most notably the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) and several brewers were supportive (Scottish Government, 2011). Their support reflects price differentials between the on-trade ( pubs, clubs and restaurants where alcohol is sold for immediate consumption on premises) and off-trade (shops where alcohol is sold for later consumption off premises) sectors. Monitoring and Evaluating of Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy (MESAS) estimates that the average price of alcohol on-trade is 153 ppu compared with 49 ppu off-trade (Robinson and Beeston, 2013)
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