Minimum alcohol pricing in Scotland to start in May

TuBBz

TuBBz

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Well done Scotland for creating a whole new bootlegging industry overnight A 3ltr bottle of strong cider just went up from £3.50 to £11.25 OVERNIGHT

Thoughts?


From today, consumers in Scotland will have to to pay a minimum price per unit of alcohol as new legislation comes into force.

The minimum price will be 50p per unit and will apply to all retailers that sell alcohol, such as supermarkets and newsagents.

https://www.moneywise.co.uk/news/2018-05-01/scotland-curbs-cheap-booze-minimum-price-unit

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Something definitely had to be done to try to curb binge drinking, but I think this is penalizing the vast majority.

Binge drinking is a problem let's face it, but surely some other way could be devised?....
 
It will just push people onto illegal drugs since they are cheaper.

We have enough evidence to look at addiction and mental health issues in a different light now. Unfortunately, it's much easier to continue with the old failed policies than to reevaluate ourselves as a society.
 
They've been threatening this shite in Ireland for a while now too.

Minimum price of any can of lager €2.50. Don't know how that affects Aldi and Lidl beers, are they really saying a 79c can of Excelsior will now be sold for 2.50?

If it's to curb binge drinking or whatever the excuse is, maybe they need to look at other factors like why there is so much binge drinking etc. but no, just jack up the prices instead.
 
£3 to £11? Okay that must be the uber strength nonsense, but nice to see the poor being punished whilst Parliament sip on their whiskey.
 
Yup, super strength cider, the white lightenings of this world that have never seen an apple in its life are now £11.25 for a 3 ltr bottle
 
I can understand the thoughts behind this, but it's not the way to tackle it, helping get people jobs and self respect is how to tackle the problem.

This is just penalising the poor. They will find other ways to consume cheap alcohol or turn to other drugs that will be cheaper.

It's ok for the rich to get drunk but not the poor.

It is a very poor attempt at solving a very real problem.
 
Pride of Lions said:
Something definitely had to be done to try to curb binge drinking, but I think this is penalizing the vast majority.
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I don't think the vast majority are buying 3 litres of cider that would take the paint off walls for £3.50.

A bottle of wine is approx 10 units (so £5 minimum)

A pint of lager is 3 units (so £1.50)

The vast majority won't even notice a difference.

If you're gulping down 3 litres of 9% cider then you deserve to be targetted either by the tax man or natural selection.
 
To say everyone is going to turn to drugs coz their booze has gone up is a massive over reaction too.

I'm sure a few will, but what do you think the majority of people will do?

a) "Oh I can't get 3 litres of mind rotter for £3.50 any more I'd better find the contact details of the local smack dealer.

OR

b) "Oh I can't get 3 litres of mind rotter for £3.50 any more, I'll just get a few cans of medium strength cider instead"

My money is on the vast majority going for option B)


To put this into comparison when petrol went up fro 80p a litre to £1.50 a litre, did everyone resort to cycling and public transport? No, they found a way and readjusted their budgets. White Lightening drinkers will just have to do the same I'm afraid. Boohoo for them.
 
DeanoVilla said:
I don't think the vast majority are buying 3 litres of cider that would take the paint off walls for £3.50.

A bottle of wine is approx 10 units (so £5 minimum)

A pint of lager is 3 units (so £1.50)

The vast majority won't even notice a difference.

If you're gulping down 3 litres of 9% cider then you deserve to be targetted either by the tax man or natural selection.
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I'd say that gulping down 3 litres of strong cider is a form of self harm. Raising prices won't matter a jott to those who do this to themselves. My objection is to the excuse that it's for their own good when the policy is entirely political and ambivalent to those who are suffering.
 
TuBBz said:
Yup, super strength cider, the white lightenings of this world that have never seen an apple in its life are now £11.25 for a 3 ltr bottle
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Must be said I don't know how folks can drink that stuff anyway, but it's hardly the point anyway. If they want to 'argue' raising extra funds for the NHS to deal with alcohols ills, stop subsidising Parliament's bars first.
 
DeanoVilla said:
b) "Oh I can't get 3 litres of mind rotter for £3.50 any more, I'll just get a few cans of medium strength cider instead"

My money is on the vast majority going for option B)
Click to expand...

I think you're both off the way I see it the people they are looking to 'protect' will turn to 'prison wine' i.e. they'll just start making their own shite or maybe they'll turn vodka and the like.
 
Won't make a scrap of difference! It's a covert way of raising taxes disguised as "doing people who drink too much" good! Bullsh*t!

If they genuinely want to help people who drink too much put the money into mental health/addictions issues which addiction does come under. Will they? Dont be silly.

No let's tax it even more: Put booze prices up: quick fix money.

Theft and crime goes up: ooh yes we can fine them more in court. More money

More hospital and police visits through it as the crime rate goes up and hospital because of people hurting others to get what they need. Hey it's keeping overstretched staff in a job (said sarcastically)

Let's not forget the staff of businesses whom because the prices go up lose there jobs and so on.

The long term plan: there isn't one. Let's make some quick fix money for the different pots and we can cut even more later. They won't realise! Aren't we clever!!

That's the problem that they have got into, is they have to raise more taxes now as they can't go much further with smokers.! So many have swapped to e-cigs (like I did) they have to make the lost taxes up somewhere. Over 3 million on e-cigs bringing traditional cigs smokers down from 11 million to 8 million they have to make the tax up somewhere so start with the drinkers now, which I always said they would.

Though I don't drink anymore as you know, I know more than the majority, it won't stop binge drinking/heavy drinking/dependancy and addiction.

Smokers always paid for their NHS treatment they may need with cigs 4 times over with taxes. I mean 20 cigs costs under a pound to make and supply. So taxes on them range from £7 -00 £9-00 depending on the brand

Thats got to be made up from somewhere so drinkers are next. It's tax .the problem not tackle it. They dont give a flying freak about people drinking too much. Its all about making money
 
It's not a tax, kefkat. The Scottish Parliament doesn't have that power. The extra money all goes to the brewery and the shop that sells it.
 
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