BOOZE HIKE TO SAVE LIVES

Scots face increase in minimum unit price of alcohol as government tackles the rising fatalities toll from drink

- PAUL HUTCHEON

SCOTS face a massive booze price hike under government plans to cut the tragic death toll from alcohol.

Ministers are looking to increase the minimum unit price of favourite tipples from 50p to 65p.

A 12-pack of 500ml Tennent's Lager would rise from a minimum of £12 to £15.60p and a bottle of Famous Grouse would go up to £18.20 from a £14 minimum under the plans.

A 50p unit price was introduced in 2018 by Nicola Sturgeon's government but it will expire next year and a public consultation on its future has been issued.

Now the Scottish Government say they want a 65p minimum unit price to keep pace with inflation and tackle Scotland's booze death crisis.

The Scottish Government said yesterday: "As Scottish Ministers are seeking a level which will derive greater benefits than the current policy, raising the level to 65ppu is proposed as the preferred position on price for the purposes of this consultation.

"This strikes an appropriate balance of achieving increased health benefits while minimising unnecessary interference in the market.

Figures from National Records of Scotland (NRS) show 1276 people died from conditions caused by alcohol in 2022. This was the highest level in 14 years, up by two per cent from the previous year.

Some 778 deaths logged alcoholic liver disease as an underlying cause.

Scottish Government Alcohol Policy Minister Elena Whitham said: "The recent rise in alcohol-specific deaths highlights the need for more to be done to tackle alcohol-related harm.

"Our world-leading Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) policy is one of the measures we know can make a difference.

Campaigners welcomed the move, saying the minimum price saves lives and needs to keep up with inflation.