The Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012 allows the Scottish Parliament to set a price below which alcohol cannot be sold. This publication reports on the operation and effect of the minimum pricing provisions during the first five years of the provisions being in force.

The purpose of this report is to report on the operation and effect of the minimum pricing provisions during the first five years of the provisions being in force. This report has been prepared to comply with section 3 of the 2012 Act, which states:

(1) The Scottish Ministers must, as soon as practicable after the end of the 5 year period, lay before the Scottish Parliament a report on the operation and effect of the minimum pricing provisions during that period.

(2) The report must, in particular, contain information about the effect that the operation of the minimum pricing provisions has had on—
(a) the licensing objectives specified in section 4 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 ("the 2005 Act"),
(b) such categories of person as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate, and
(c) the businesses of—
(i) holders of premises licenses granted under the 2005 Act, and
(ii) producers of alcohol.

(3) The categories mentioned in subsection (2)(b) may be determined by reference to characteristics including—(a) age,
(b) gender,
(c) social and economic deprivation,
(d) alcohol consumption, and
(e) such other characteristics as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.

(4) In preparing the report, the Scottish Ministers must consult—
(a) such persons as appear to them to be representative of the interests of—
(i) holders of premises licenses granted under the 2005 Act,
(ii) producers of alcohol,
(b) such persons as they consider appropriate having functions in relation to—
(i) health,
(ii) prevention of crime,
(iii) education,
(iv) social work,
(v) children and young people, and
(c) such other persons (if any) as they consider appropriate.

(5) The Scottish Ministers must, as soon as practicable after the report has been laid before the Parliament, publish the report in such manner as they consider appropriate.

(6) In this section, "the 5 year period" and "the minimum pricing provisions" have the meanings given in section 2(5).

Report structure
The remainder of this report is structured as follows:

1. Evaluation of Minimum Unit Pricing of Alcohol in Scotland - This chapter outlines the background to the PHS evaluation of MUP, summarises the key findings from the final PHS MUP evaluation report, and sets out the findings from the final evaluation report in relation to the licensing objectives, groups and appropriate categories of person identified by the Scottish Ministers, in accordance with sections 3(2) and (3) of the 2012 Act.

2. Summary of Consultation Themes – This chapter summarises the key themes from the MUP roundtable consultations held in 2022 and 2023, which were undertaken to fulfil the requirements of section 3(4) of the 2012 Act.

3. Conclusion and Next Steps – This chapter outlines Scottish Ministers' conclusions on the operation and effect of MUP and details the next steps for the MUP policy.

4. Annex A – a copy of the final PHS MUP evaluation report

5. Annex B – Stakeholders who took part in 2022 and 2023 call for evidence

6. Annex C – Questions used in 2022 and 2023 call for evidence