Owners of the 5,300 convenience stores across Scotland will be the focus of a new awareness-raising campaign on the introduction of a minimum unit price for alcohol.

This is the first stage in a large-scale campaign to ensure retailers and customers are ready for the implementation of the new legislation on 1 May.

It comes as the Scottish Government is set to recommend a minimum unit price to the Scottish Parliament.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “Minimum unit pricing will tackle the scourge of cheap, high-strength drink that causes so much damage to so many families and is going to save the lives of thousands of Scots.

“Retailers are the key to ensuring the legislation is implemented, which is why it is crucial we raise awareness of this change in the law early and give people time to get prepared.

“These materials will allow shop-owners to access a valuable bank of information to educate themselves and their staff ahead of the change on 1 May.

“Our consultation on the price of a unit of alcohol recently closed, and I am looking forward to presenting our recommendation to the Scottish Parliament next week.”

Background

Posters, leaflets and adverts in trade magazines will be distributed from next week highlighting the changes to alcohol licences from 1 May. A copy of the visuals is attached.

Online resources will be available shortly after to provide guidance for retailers on issues like calculating the minimum unit price of a product, enforcement, and money-off vouchers.

More information on the development of minimum pricing in alcohol is available here.

Proposed price of 50 pence per unit

Meanwhile, Ms Robison has also confirmed that the Scottish Government will recommend the minimum price per unit of alcohol should be set at 50 pence.

The decision was made following analysis of a public consultation, and the recommended price will now be laid before the Scottish Parliament

Ms Robison said the responses to the consultation indicated the majority of respondents who commented on the price were supportive of the 50 pence minimum unit price.

She said: “I am grateful to everyone who took the time to respond to the consultation on our proposed minimum price per unit of alcohol and I am happy to confirm that we will be moving forward with our recommendation of 50 pence.

“With alcohol on sale today in some places at just 16 pence per unit, we have to tackle the scourge of cheap, high-strength drink that causes so much damage to so many families. This move will save thousands of lives.”

The full consultation report can be found here.