Minimum Unit Pricing

Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) is a public health policy that sets a legal minimum price for the sale of alcoholic beverages based on their alcohol content. The goal is to reduce alcohol consumption, particularly among heavy drinkers, by making cheap, high-alcohol drinks more expensive. For example, if a minimum price is set at 50 pence per unit of alcohol, a drink with 10 units cannot be sold for less than £5. This approach aims to tackle alcohol-related harm and promote healthier drinking habits in society while maintaining personal choice.