`Minimum pricing will impact most on harmful drinkers - those who regularly drink more than the sensible drinking guidelines. Those who drink within sensible guidelines will only be marginally affected simply because they only consume a small amount of alcohol and also because they do not tend to buy as much of the cheaper alcohol that would be most affected by a minimum price. A 50p per unit minimum price would increase the price of a 70cl bottle of whisky to £14. The small increase in the cost of alcohol to moderate drinkers has to be seen in the context of the total costs of alcohol misuse - estimates suggest around £900 per year for every adult in Scotland.
Almost all drinks bought in the pub are already sold well above any likely minimum price, so they wouldn't be affected. The minimum price of 50p per unit will mostly affect cheap white ciders and low-grade spirits with high alcohol content favoured by problem drinkers.
The Chief Medical Officer believes that - like the smoking ban - minimum price would save lives within a year. Research by the University of Sheffield estimated that the proposed minimum price of 50p per unit would result in the following benefits: -
- Alcohol related deaths would fall by about 60 in the first year and 318 by year ten of the policy.
- A fall in hospital admission of 1,600 in year 1, and 6,500 per year by year ten of the policy.
- A fall in crime volumes by around 3,500 offences per year.
- A financial saving from harm reduction (health, employment, crime etc.) of £942m over ten years.
Some people may not feel that they are part of Scotland's alcohol problem, but through the introduction of minimum pricing, everyone will feel the economic and social benefits of the solution through healthier, happier, safer families and communities.`