Alcohol - Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) - continuation and future pricing: consultation analysis
Analysis of responses to the public consultation on whether Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) should be continued as part of the range of policy measures in place to address alcohol related harm, and, in the event of its continuation, the level the minimum unit price should be set going forward.
3. Quantitative analysis
This chapter presents the results of the two quantitative consultation questions.
Q1. Do you think Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) should continue?
| Total | Yes | No | No answer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n= | n= | % | n= | % | n= | % | |
| All respondents | 545 | 214 | 39% | 321 | 59% | 10 | 2% |
| Individuals | 432 | 115 | 27% | 309 | 72% | 8 | 2% |
| Organisations | 113 | 99 | 88% | 12 | 11% | 2 | 2% |
| Public Sector Health Organisation | 23 | 23 | 100% | - | 0% | - | 0% |
| Third Sector Health Organisation | 21 | 20 | 95% | 1 | 5% | - | 0% |
| International organisation | 20 | 20 | 100% | - | 0% | - | 0% |
| Retail, including representative bodies and hospitality | 10 | 8 | 80% | 2 | 20% | - | 0% |
| Professional / Membership body / Trade Union | 9 | 7 | 78% | 1 | 11% | 1 | 11% |
| Other Third Sector | 7 | 7 | 100% | - | 0% | - | 0% |
| Alcohol Industry Representative body | 6 | 1 | 17% | 5 | 83% | - | 0% |
| Academia | 5 | 5 | 100% | - | 0% | - | 0% |
| Alcohol producer | 5 | 2 | 40% | 3 | 60% | - | 0% |
| Local Government body | 4 | 4 | 100% | - | 0% | - | 0% |
| Other | 3 | 2 | 67% | - | 0% | 1 | 33% |
Among all respondents, 39% supported MUP continuing, 59% were opposed and 2% did not answer.
There were, however, significant differences between individuals and organisations. Just over one quarter (27%) of individuals supported MUP continuing, compared to almost nine in ten (88%) of organisations.
All public health sector organisations, international organisations, non-health third sector organisations, academic bodies and local government bodies responding to the consultation agreed MUP should continue. A clear majority of most other sectors were also supportive, with only a small number of organisations opposed.
However, 83% of alcohol industry representative bodies and 60% of producers were opposed.
Q2. If MUP continues, do you agree with the proposed Minimum Unit Price of 65 pence?
| Total | Yes | No | No answer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n= | n= | % | n= | % | n= | % | |
| All respondents | 545 | 173 | 32% | 361 | 66% | 10 | 2% |
| Individuals | 432 | 84 | 19% | 342 | 79% | 6 | 1% |
| Organisations | 113 | 89 | 79% | 19 | 17% | 5 | 4% |
| Public Sector Health Organisation | 23 | 22 | 96% | 1 | 4% | - | 0% |
| Third Sector Health Organisation | 21 | 19 | 90% | 1 | 5% | 1 | 5% |
| International organisation | 20 | 20 | 100% | - | 0% | - | 0% |
| Retail, including representative bodies and hospitality | 10 | 4 | 40% | 5 | 50% | 1 | 10% |
| Professional / Membership body / Trade Union | 9 | 6 | 67% | 1 | 11% | 2 | 22% |
| Other Third Sector | 7 | 6 | 86% | 1 | 14% | - | 0% |
| Alcohol Industry Representative body | 6 | 1 | 17% | 5 | 83% | - | 0% |
| Academia | 5 | 5 | 100% | - | 0% | - | 0% |
| Alcohol producer | 5 | 1 | 20% | 4 | 80% | - | 0% |
| Local Government body | 4 | 4 | 100% | - | 0% | - | 0% |
| Other | 3 | 1 | 33% | 1 | 33% | 1 | 33% |
One third of respondents (32%) agreed with the proposed minimum unit price of 65 pence. Two thirds (66%) disagreed and 2% did not answer.
Individuals and organisations held almost exactly opposing views. While 79% of individuals disagreed and 19% agreed, among organisations 79% agreed and 17% disagreed.
While a majority of most types of organisation supported the proposal, opposition to the proposed price increase was slightly higher than to continuing MUP. Opposition was highest among alcohol industry representative bodies (83%), producers (80%) and retail (50%).
Combined results
As shown in Table 5, most respondents held firm views either for or against MUP. One third (32%) supported a continuation and a price increase (Yes in Q1 and Yes in Q2). Three fifths (59%) opposed both proposals (No in Q1 and No in Q2).
| Q1 Do you think MUP should continue? | Q2 Do you agree with the proposed MUP of 65p? | Individuals | Organisations | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n= | % | n= | % | n= | % | ||
| Yes | Yes | 83 | 19% | 89 | 79% | 172 | 32% |
| Yes | No | 32 | 7% | 7 | 6% | 39 | 7% |
| Yes | Not answered | - | 0% | 3 | 3% | 3 | 1% |
| No | Yes | 1 | <1% | - | 0% | 1 | <1% |
| No | No | 308 | 71% | 12 | 11% | 320 | 59% |
| No | Not answered | - | 0% | - | 0% | - | 0% |
| Not answered | Yes | - | 0% | - | 0% | - | 0% |
| Not answered | No | 2 | <1% | - | 0% | 2 | <1% |
| Not answered | Not answered | 6 | 1% | 2 | 2% | 8 | 1% |
However, almost one in ten (7%) were in favour of MUP continuing, but opposed to the specified price. Reasons for this are explored in more detail in the qualitative analysis, but common reasons were that an increase in cost was an additional financial burden and that 65 pence was an excessive price per unit. Specifically among the seven organisations who agreed with a continuation but not a proposed minimum unit price of 65p:
- Department of Public Health, NHS Forth Valley felt the proposed minimum unit price should be higher.
- Scottish Grocers’ Federation called for it to remain at 50ppu until the impact of the policy is properly assessed, Scottish Wholesale Association did not endorse an increase and opposed any price over 65ppu, and the Association of Convenience Stores did not comment, explaining they did not have analysis to indicate the most appropriate minimum unit price.
- Scottish Youth Parliament felt the increase to 65ppu was too great, and Church of Scotland (Public Life and Social Justice Programme Group) favoured an increase to 60ppu.
- Another organisation advocated for a mechanism to align increases with inflation.
Contact
Email: MUP@gov.scot
There is a problem
Thanks for your feedback