About minimum unit price

A minimum unit price will link the price of alcohol to its strength - the more units of alcohol, the higher the price. 

It is targeted to increase the price of the most harmful alcohol, such as strong white cider. This will protect vulnerable younger and heavier drinkers who are more likely to drink cheap alcohol, and suffer the consequences, by pricing it out of their hands.

It won’t increase the price of a pint in the pub.

After ten years, every year in England a minimum 50p per unit will:

• save 3,393 lives
• reduce hospital admissions by 97,900
• cut crimes by 45,800
• cut unemployment by 27,100
• save 296,900 working days lost through absenteeism
• reduce the amount younger and heavier drinkers consume.

You get what you pay for
As with anything, with a minimum unit price you get what you pay for. Setting the price lower than 50p will realise fewer benefits. Setting it higher will achieve more.

After ten years, a minimum 40p per unit will annually: save 1,381 lives; cut 16,000 crimes; reduce hospital admissions by 40,800; save 100,400 days lost to absenteeism and cut unemployment by 12,400.

After ten years, a minimum 60p per unit will annually: save 5,875 lives; cut 88,400 crimes; reduce hospital admissions by 168,800; save 590,300 days lost to absenteeism and cut unemployment by 43,400.

What will it cost me?
A minimum 50p per unit will cost a moderate drinker an average 28p extra a week or an average £14.45 extra a year.

However, the more you drink, the more you can expect to pay. People who regularly drink above these recommended limits can expect to pay an extra £1.79 a week or £93.11 a year.

Heavy drinkers, who regularly drink more than twice the recommended limits, will face a price increase of £5.95 a week or £309.46 a year.

Click here to find out if a minimum unit price will increase the price of your drink.

It’s already working
A minimum unit price is already working in Canada and is supported by the majority of North Easterners. A minimum 50p per unit has been approved for Scotland. There is no sense in England setting the bar any lower.

Our Government is committed to the measure. However, the price is yet to be set and it will be the subject of a forthcoming Home Office consultation which you can respond to here.

A question of trust
Some global alcohol companies oppose minimum unit price. You may hear their arguments, but at the end of the day, it all boils down to trust. A minimum unit price is supported by people who put your health and wellbeing first, such as the British Medical Association. It is opposed by some who have a legal obligation to put the profits of their shareholders first.

So, who do you trust?

Click here to read the real truths behind minimum unit price.