This week the price of alcohol in Scotland is increasing by 30% – a headline that I’m sure fills many students with dread and is now changing the whole idea of a uni night out so, with the hope to hold on to a cheap night out, let's take a closer look to see how bad this might be.
Credit: Louise Millar.
The new Minimum Unit Price (MUP) will now be set at 65p per unit of alcohol, increasing 15p from the previous cap set in 2018.
This means that a 12.5% bottle of wine now cannot be sold for less than £6.09, whilst a bottle of vodka is capped at an eye-watering £17.06. All bad news for the already tight student budget.
Credit: BBC News/BBC Research.
The Scottish government’s reasoning behind this sudden price hike is to keep the MUP in line with COVID-related inflation. Arguing that since the cap was introduced in 2018 the country has seen numerous health and social benefits with a notable drop in alcohol-related deaths.
However, the death rate remains at a higher level than in other UK countries that do not use the MUP. Reportedly, more than 20 people a week dying in Scotland due to alcohol misuse (BBC).
So, is the MUP actually effective?
Spokespeople for both the Scottish Green Party and the Scottish Conservatives noted that although a step in the right direction it is not a ‘cure-all’, with the Conservatives going so far as saying that the new rules only ‘punish responsible drinkers’ (BBC).
Although the average St Andrews student may not necessarily be perceived as a ‘responsible drinker’, the new MUP does consequently spell disaster for the post-study pint as this week a pint in the Whey Pat costs a whopping £6.05, a life-changing increase for student life.
Comments