Food, Drink & Hospitality Scotland

Minimum unit pricing compliance for alcohol retailers

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

Guide summary

If you sell alcohol in Scotland, you must charge at least 65p per unit of alcohol. To find the minimum price, multiply the alcohol strength (ABV) by the volume in litres, then multiply by 65p. Do not offer discounts like 'buy one get one free' on shop alcohol. Breaking these rules can lead to fines up to £20,000 or 6 months in prison.

  • Calculate minimum price using ABV × litres × £0.65
  • Sell all alcohol at or above the minimum unit price
  • Do not offer multi-buy discounts on off-sales alcohol
  • Penalty up to £20,000 fine or 6 months in prison
  • Licensing Standards Officers check compliance
  • Trading Standards enforce pricing accuracy
  • Breach can lead to licence review or loss
  • Scotland rate is 65p per unit from 30 September 2024
  • Multi-buy ban applies to shops and supermarkets only
On this page

Related guides in Alcohol Licensing

Alcohol licensing in Scotland

How alcohol licensing works in Scotland under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 — five licensing objectives, Licensing Boards, …

Alcohol licensing requirements

How to obtain a premises licence to sell alcohol in England and Wales, including application process, fees, designated …

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