Minimum alcohol price introduced in Scotland on May 1

Scotland’s minimum price for alcohol will start on May 1 next year, the SNP’s Health Minister has announced amid pressure on her to increase her planned cost of 50p per unit.

Shona Robison told MSPs that the date would be a “landmark moment” in the battle against one of the country’s most serious health problems.

In a statement at Holyrood, she said “lives have been lost” during the five years the scheme was snarled up in the courts by the whisky industry and she wanted to implement it as soon as possible.

But she faced questions from opposition parties whether a minimum price of 50p per unit, the amount she intended to set when the legislation was passed in 2012, was still the correct level.

Willie Rennie, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, argued that 60p would be more appropriate to take into account inflation and “other factors” that have appeared since.

Although Ms Robison said that academic evidence still supported a 50p starting point, she announced a consultation on the regulations that will set the price.

The minister also attempted to draw a line under the government’s row with the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) but was undermined by Alex Neil, her predecessor as Health Minister, who launched a fierce attack on the trade body.

Mr Neil argued that the SWA’s offer to pay the Scottish Government’s legal costs was “not enough” because the delay caused by the “unnecessary and irresponsible” court action could have cost almost 400 lives.

Ms Robison’s statement to MSPs came as new figures 36,235 hospital admissions were caused by alcohol in 2016/17, an increase of 2.4 per cent compared to the previous year.

The admissions rate was eight times higher among people from the poorest communities. Separate figures published in August showed there were 1,265 alcohol-related deaths in 2016, a rise of 10 per cent from 2015.

Scotland will be the first country in the world to set a minimum unit price after the SWA last week lost an appeal against the plan in the UK Supreme Court.

A 50p minimum price would make the price of a bottle of spirits at least £14, the cheapest bottle of wine £4.69, and a four-pack of 500ml cans of lager at least £4. However, more expensive drinks would be unaffected along with the vast majority of those sold in pubs.

Outlining the next steps, Ms Robison said the consultation on the regulations will begin in December, with the order setting the minimum price being laid before Holyrood at the start of March 2018 and the scheme starting on May 1.

The legislation has a "sunset clause", which means it will be reviewed after five years before a decision is taken on whether it should continue, and in what form.

The Health Minister said: "Next May, we take a huge step forwards in tackling one of Scotland's enduring health harms.

"Minimum unit pricing of alcohol can help to turn the tide on alcohol harm, and May 1 will be a landmark moment."

Jackson Carlaw, the Scottish Conservative deputy leader, asked her if she was confident that 50p was still an "appropriate" level.

She said: "We are going to consult and we will hear the views of that consultation but we believe there is very much a lot of evidence for maintaining the 50p price."