Food, Drink & Hospitality

Minimum unit pricing compliance for alcohol retailers

How to calculate and apply minimum unit pricing for alcohol sales in Scotland, including enforcement and penalties.

Scotland
Guide summary

You must charge at least 65p per unit of alcohol in Scotland (or 50p in Wales). Calculate it using the drink's size and alcohol percentage. Breaking this rule can lead to fines or prison.

  • Scotland: 65p per unit since September 2024
  • Wales: 50p per unit since March 2020
  • Calculate price: ABV × size (litres) × minimum unit price
  • No 'buy one get one free' on alcohol in off-sales
  • Penalties: up to £20,000 fine or 6 months prison
  • Enforced by Licensing Standards and Trading Standards
  • Scotland: mygov.scot/minimum-unit-pricing
  • Wales: gov.wales/minimum-unit-pricing-alcohol
On this page
Scotland

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All alcohol sold in Scotland must be priced at or above the minimum unit price. This applies to both on-sales (pubs, restaurants) and off-sales (shops, supermarkets). Selling below the minimum price is a criminal offence.

How to calculate the minimum price

Multiply these three figures together:

  1. Alcohol by volume (ABV) — the strength shown on the label (use the number, for example 13 for 13% ABV)
  2. Volume in litres — convert ml to litres (divide by 1000)
  3. Minimum unit price — currently £0.65

Formula: ABV (number) × volume (litres) × £0.65 = minimum price. This works because ABV × litres gives the number of units of alcohol, and each unit must cost at least 65p.

Examples

  • 750ml bottle of wine at 13% ABV: 13 × 0.75 × £0.65 = £6.34 minimum
  • 500ml can of lager at 4% ABV: 4 × 0.5 × £0.65 = £1.30 minimum
  • 700ml bottle of whisky at 40% ABV: 40 × 0.7 × £0.65 = £18.20 minimum

Multi-buy ban

Scotland also bans quantity-based discounts on off-sales alcohol. You cannot offer 'buy one get one free' or volume discounts on alcohol in off-sales premises.

Enforcement and penalties

Licensing Standards Officers (LSOs) and Trading Standards monitor compliance. Breach of minimum pricing is a criminal offence that can result in fines up to £20,000, imprisonment up to 6 months, and licence review or revocation.

Official guidance