The big news story in the UK today is that Scotland is set to become among the first countries in the world to introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol.
The country’s highest court gave its backing to the controversial measure in what ministers in Edinburgh have hailed as an “historic and far-reaching judgment.”
READ MORE: Making Frosty Jack’s expensive ‘will only see users misuse another substance’, say makers
The move comes after figures showed there were 1,265 alcohol related deaths in Scotland in 2016 - a rise of 10% on the previous year.
Alcohol misuse results in about 670 hospital admissions and 24 deaths a week - with the Scottish Government saying death rates are almost 1.5 times higher now than they were in the early 1980s.
READ MORE: Watch Glasgow comedian Limmy lament the death of Frosty Jack’s with daft sketch
And it estimated that alcohol misuse costs Scotland some £3.6 billion a year - the equivalent of £900 for every adult.
With sales figures showing that, in 2016, 17% more alcohol was sold per person in Scotland than in England and Wales, we take a look at how the change will hit your pocket:
- A 310cl bottle of Frosty Jack’s cider contains 22.5 units of alcohol. It currently costs £3.59, but will go up to £11.25.
- A 150cl of Lambrini contains 11.3 units of alcohol. Currently costing £3, it will rise to at least £5.65.
- A 70cl bottle of Tesco Imperial Vodka (37.5% ABV) contains 26 units. Priced at £11 at the moment, it will cost a minimum of £13.
- A 568ml can of Tennent’s Lager under minimum pricing would have to cost at least £1.15.
- Four 440ml cans of five per cent strength lager would cost at least £4.40.
- A bottle of wine of 12% alcohol strength would cost at least £4.50.
- A 70cl bottle of whisky could not be sold for less than £14.
READ MORE: Glasgow residents share opinions on new minimum pricing rules for alcohol
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