08 Apr 2026

Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) is a floor price per unit of alcohol, not a tax. It sets the lowest legal price at which a single unit (10ml, or 8g of pure alcohol) can be sold. The policy specifically targets cheap, high-strength alcohol sold in supermarkets and off-licences.

Since 2018, Scotland has implemented MUP, followed by Wales in 2020. England does not currently have minimum alcohol pricing in place. This has reignited debate around whether minimum unit pricing in England should now be introduced.

Table of contents

  • MUP in Scotland – has it worked?
  • Why hasn't England introduced MUP?
  • Will higher prices actually stop addiction?
  • The Rehabs UK perspective
  • Where to get help for alcohol addiction
  • Bibliography
  • Related articles

MUP in Scotland – has it worked?

What is the minimum unit pricing rule?

In May 2018, the Scottish Government introduced a minimum price of 50p per unit. In 2023, this was increased to 65p per unit.

Key facts:

  • MUP applies primarily to off-trade alcohol (supermarkets, convenience stores).
  • It disproportionately affects strong white cider, value vodka and multi-pack beers.
  • It is not a duty tax – the additional revenue goes to retailers, not the Treasury.
  • It does not directly affect pub prices, which are typically already above the minimum threshold.

How effective has MUP been?

According to Public Health Scotland, alcohol-specific deaths in Scotland were estimated to be 13% lower than they would have been without MUP in its early years of implementation. Hospital admissions wholly attributable to alcohol were also reported to have fallen by around 4–8% compared to projections.

A major evaluation led by the University of Sheffield found:

  • Overall alcohol sales fell by around 3–5% in the first few years.
  • The largest reductions were seen in households purchasing the most alcohol.
  • The policy particularly reduced purchases of strong white cider.

These findings suggest that minimum unit pricing in Scotland has produced measurable public health gains at a population level.

However, the same evaluations show mixed results among the most deprived and heavily dependent drinkers. Evidence suggests:

  • Moderate and heavy social drinkers reduced consumption.
  • The lowest income groups experienced financial strain.
  • The most dependent 20% showed more limited reductions in drinking.

Why hasn't England introduced MUP?

The question “does England have minimum alcohol pricing?” remains easy to answer: No.

Successive governments in England have hesitated to introduce minimum alcohol pricing England for several reasons:

  • Concerns over the “nanny state” narrative.
  • The cost-of-living crisis.
  • Industry lobbying.
  • Legal complexities following early challenges in Scotland.

However, major public health bodies – including the Faculty of Public Health and the Institute of Alcohol Studies – have consistently argued that pricing is one of the most evidence-based levers available to reduce harm.

Alcohol harm remains significant in England. According to Office for National Statistics, there were over 10,000 alcohol-specific deaths in the UK in 2022, the highest level on record. Meanwhile, NHS England data show rising hospital admissions related to alcohol.

Yet, critics argue that MUP England risks punishing those already struggling with addiction without sufficiently investing in treatment services.

Will higher prices actually stop addiction?

This is where the debate moves beyond economics into medicine and lived experience to whether higher prices of alcohol will reduce addiction.

Higher prices alone are unlikely to stop addiction. While cost increases can reduce casual or recreational use, addiction is driven by complex psychological, physical, and social factors that go far beyond affordability.

From Rehabs UK’s experience, individuals struggling with addiction often prioritise substance use despite financial strain, sometimes turning to riskier behaviours or alternatives when prices rise. Effective recovery typically requires comprehensive support, such as therapy, medical treatment, and long-term rehabilitation, rather than relying solely on economic deterrents.

The impact on dependent drinkers

Lester Morse, Director of Rehabs UK, offers a clear perspective:

“For public health it can have some positive effects. Where addiction is concerned, it will cause more hardship, stress and poverty – probably leading to more suffering for the most deprived people.”

“Casual drinkers can stop or moderate given a sufficient reason, like price rises. Dependent people cannot stop or moderate.”

Research looking at the minimum unit pricing reduces alcohol-related harm to health from Public Health Scotland indicates that while MUP reduced overall consumption, the bottom 20% of the heaviest drinkers saw limited benefit and, in some cases, increased financial strain.

This has been described as the “eat or heat” dilemma – where dependent drinkers may sacrifice essentials to maintain alcohol intake.

As Lester Morse explains: “Addiction doesn’t just go away without the correct treatment. Even if you completely price alcohol out of reach, people will start to make their own more dangerous versions. It doesn’t go away – it just goes somewhere else.”

This aligns with longstanding addiction research showing that dependency is driven by neurological, psychological and social factors – not simply affordability. For more on this, see our guide to Understanding the Cycle of Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Addiction Statistics UK.

Deterrent vs. punishment

There is evidence that MUP acts as a deterrent for:

  • Young people at risk of heavy drinking.
  • Hazardous but non-dependent drinkers.
  • Consumers of ultra-cheap, high-strength products.

However, for individuals already in the grip of severe alcohol dependence, it may feel punitive.

Lester Morse states:

“It’s not a statistically primary driver for getting people into treatment. It helps heavy, unhealthy drinkers but harms alcohol dependent people, especially the most deprived. It’s basically a tax on sick people.”

Notably, MUP is not a tax in the legal sense. But because retailers retain the additional revenue, residential rehab providers in Scotland have called for a public health harm prevention levy, arguing that surplus profits should be ringfenced for treatment services. Lester Morse summarises: “If the government is making a saving from those who can stop, that money should be used to help those who can’t. Good treatment is what people need.”

The Rehabs UK perspective

Does minimum alcohol pricing work? The evidence suggests:

  • Yes at a population level. It reduces sales and some alcohol-related deaths.
  • No overall. It is not a standalone solution for addiction.

Rehabs UK’s position is that MUP is a partial solution and a blunt instrument.

Effective policy would require:

  • Increased funding for NHS detoxification services.
  • Greater access to residential rehabilitation.
  • Earlier identification in GP surgeries and A&E.
  • Integrated psychosocial and peer support.
  • Long-term aftercare planning.

As Lester explains:

“Addiction doesn’t go away – it goes somewhere else. Effective interventions would lead people into better long-term treatment services and support.”

Instead, a 360-degree approach is needed – one that recognises the unequal impact of alcohol addiction in the UK and addresses the social determinants of dependency.

If minimum unit pricing is ever introduced in England, it must be paired with:

  • Expanded detox capacity.
  • Commissioned residential treatment placements.
  • Stronger referral pathways.
  • Workplace support (see: Supporting employees with alcohol and drug issues).
  • Greater awareness of the link between ADHD and alcohol addiction and drinking and depression.
  • Without treatment investment, pricing alone risks entrenching hardship rather than resolving addiction.

Where to get help for alcohol addiction

If you or a loved one is struggling, price increases alone will not solve the problem. Addiction is a medical condition requiring structured support. Rehabs UK provides:

If alcohol use is becoming unmanageable, or if you are concerned about someone else, speak confidentially with a Rehabs UK advisor.

Early intervention prevents crisis. You can also explore related resources such as:

Bibliography

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