Supporters of Scotland’s regressive alcohol legislation took a hit this week when it was revealed that minimum unit pricing had only had a ‘minimal effect’ on drink-related crime.
A Manchester Metropolitan University study looked at Police Scotland data collected since 2015. It found that there were no statistically significant changes in alcohol-related crime, disorder and public-nuisance offences after 2018, when a minimum price of 50p per unit was introduced.
The nanny statists who support minimum pricing point to declining alcohol consumption in Scotland compared with the north-east of England – a part of the country not exactly famous for its sobriety. But what they ignore is that many Scots actually increased their spending on alcohol after minimum pricing was introduced – especially the poorest.