English and Welsh wine sold in Scotland will be subject to the new minimum unit price for alcohol of 50p.
Responding to the announcement of a minimum unit price, trade body Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) interim chief executive Gavin Partington said: “Hard pressed consumers in Scotland can now see the true impact of the Scottish Government’s policy. A minimum unit price of 50p will punish the majority of responsible consumers with higher prices, hitting the poorest hardest and will do nothing to tackle the root causes of alcohol misuse.“
A price of 50p a unit minimum means a bottle of wine will be at least £4.69 and four cans of lager £3.52
Partington says: “The government’s own report shows that 73%* of all alcohol prices in the off-trade would rise overnight as a result of a 50p minimum unit price. That means that a bottle of wine currently selling for £3.33 would rise in price to £5.06 and a bottle of vodka from £11.10 to £13.13.
“Rather than penalising the responsible majority, we believe that alcohol policy should be targeted at problem drinkers.”
Photo: Images_of_Money
