Convenience stores and supermarkets had similar alcohol pricing levels in the first 12 months after the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) of alcohol, according to a new report by Public Health Scotland (PHS).
The report, which evaluates the price and range of alcohol products in the Scottish off-trade sector in the 12 months following the implementation of MUP, shows that alcohol costs in supermarkets increased more than smaller shops, meaning that both were at a similar pricing level. The average price of a unit of alcohol in convenience stores increased from 63p to 67p, a rise of 6.3%.
In addition, the report shows that the average price of alcoholic drinks in the off-trade increased in Scotland to a greater extent than was seen in England and Wales over the same period. The increase in average prices during the study period was also greater than the rises seen between the two years in Scotland prior to MUP.
The greatest increases in price were seen in the types of alcoholic drinks that were priced the lowest relative to their alcohol by volume (ABV) prior to MUP, such as some ciders, perries and supermarket own-brand spirits – all of which tended to be priced below £0.50 per unit prior to MUP being implemented. The products that increased the least in average price, such as some ready-to-drink beverages, or those that decreased in price, such as some fortified wines in convenience stores, appeared most likely to see increased sales.
The report reveals that Buckfast sales increased by 40% after MUP was introduced, while sales of fortified wines rose by 18%.
Changes were seen in sales across different container sizes, including reductions in the amount sold in larger single-item containers, especially for some ciders and own-brand spirits in containers of 1 litre and over. The amount of beer and cider sold in the largest multipacks also declined, while sales in smaller multipacks increased.
Dr Karl Ferguson, Public Health Intelligence Adviser at Public Health Scotland, said: “In the first 12 months after MUP was implemented, we found that, especially for products that were priced below £0.50 per unit of alcohol prior to MUP, prices went up, the amount sold in larger container sizes went down, and sales also declined.
“We also found that, because of the price increase, even in instances where the volume of sales went down, the value of sales remained fairly constant or increased.”
