Minimum Unit Pricing Across The Border

Minimum Unit Pricing seems to have already disappeared into the ether that bills in progress through the Scottish Parliament seem drawn towards, despite being hailed by Labour as a sign of an SNP administration in crisis and being as controversial as the 2005 Smoking, Health and Social Care Act.

However, it would also seem to be enjoying some popularity – with MPs in England. According to a report in the Guardian on the 11th of December, the Health Select Committee, a cross-party body, will, with the support of the British Medical Association and  Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer, approach the Government urging them to impose a 50 pence per unit price on all alcoholic drinks.

If adopted, this measure would see a moderate rise in the price of beer, cider, alcopops and cheap spirits when bought from an off-license or supermarket. The 50 pence price point is mid-way between the SNP’s initial proposal of 40 pence per unit and the 60 pence per unit price proposed by Scottish Government advisers.

Sadly, despite the cross-party and expert support, Gordon Brown is opposed to the measure because “it is unfair to the majority of drinkers” (Guardian), while the Tory Party oppose it’s principle. It’s worth noting however, that the key difference between this proposal in Westminster and in Holyrood is that Westminister may apply this as a tax, either fully or partially with companies mandated to make up remainder of the price increase. This coule potentially generate much needed revenue for the Government.

The First Minister’s Question Time following the publication of the Select Committee’s report on the 7th of January may make for interesting viewing, with Alex Salmond being handed an ideal weapon  to use against Scottish Labour’s opposition to the Alcohol Bill. It also raises the possibility of further MPs or MSPs following Malcolm Chrisholm’s lead and breaking the whip over an issue which deeply affects Scotland.

Other measures recommended by the report include increasing education regarding the effects of alcohol, giving local authorities greater powers over licensees, targeting irresponsible promotions and decreasing duty on alcoholic drink with less then 2.8% alcohol by volume. Several of these are already in place in Scotland, enacted by both the Labour-Lib Dem and SNP administrations.