Minimum pricing – Scotland

Effects of Minimum Pricing and Discount Bans in Scotland

In 2009, the Scottish Government published a report on a Scottish adaptation of the Sheffield Alcohol Policy Model

• Model-Based Appraisal of Alcohol Minimum Pricing and Off-Licensed Trade Discount Bans in Scotland: A Scottish adaptation of the Sheffield Alcohol Policy Model version 2

followed by updates in 2010 and 2012, using newly available data:

• Model-Based Appraisal of Alcohol Minimum Pricing and Off-Licensed Trade Discount Bans in Scotland Using the Sheffield Alcohol Policy Model (V 2):- An Update Based on Newly Available Data, April 2010
• Model-Based Appraisal of Alcohol Minimum Pricing and Off-Licensed Trade Discount Bans in Scotland Using the Sheffield Alcohol Policy Model (V 2):- An Update Based on Newly Available Data, Jan 2012

Evidence from these reports was used by Scottish Government when proposing the Alcohol Scotland Bill in 2010 and subsequent legislation for minimum unit pricing in 2012.

A further update was published in April 2016 presenting evidence relevant to the legal challenge to the Scottish Government’s minimum pricing legislation.  In addition to incorporating newly available data, this update added new analyses comparing the effects of minimum unit pricing and taxation policies by income group:

• Model-based appraisal of the comparative impact of Minimum Unit Pricing and taxation policies in Scotland: An adaptation of the Sheffield Alcohol Policy Model version 3

Reports to the Scottish government

Angus C, Holmes J, Pryce R, Meier P, Brennan A. (2016) ‘Model-based appraisal of the comparative impact of Minimum Unit Pricing and taxation policies in Scotland: An adaptation of the Sheffield Alcohol Policy Model version 3‘, ScHARR: University of Sheffield.

Meng, Y. et al. (2012) ‘Model-based appraisal of alcohol minimum pricing and off-licensed trade discount bans in Scotland using the Sheffield Alcohol Policy Model (v.2):  Second update based on newly available data’ ScHARR, University of Sheffield

Meng, Y. et al. (2010) ‘Model-based appraisal of alcohol minimum pricing and off-licensed trade discount bans in Scotland using the Sheffield Alcohol Policy Model (v.2): An update based on newly available data’ ScHARR, University of Sheffield

Purshouse, R. et al. (2009) ‘Model-based appraisal of alcohol minimum pricing and off-licensed trade discount bans in Scotland: A Scottish adaptation of the Sheffield Alcohol Policy Model version 2’, ScHARR, University of Sheffield