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:
- Alcohol by volume (ABV) — the strength shown on the label (use the number, for example 13 for 13% ABV)
- Volume in litres — convert ml to litres (divide by 1000)
- Minimum unit price — £0.65 (since 30 September 2024)
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.
Legal basis
Primary legislation and key regulations