Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) Continuation and future pricing: Island Communities Impact Assessment

Step Three – Consultation:

A full public consultation was undertaken between September and November 2023, in addition to specific engagement with a wide range of stakeholders in 2022 and 2023. In considering appropriate engagement, the Scottish Islands Federation (SIF) and the Islands Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) were assessed as appropriate organisations to consult on the specific interests of island communities, in relation to the review of MUP.

Roundtable engagement session were held with stakeholders with the SIF and Islands ADPs invited to provide their views on MUP. Following discussion with organisations representing the island communities, and the evidence base on the effects of MUP more broadly, the Scottish Government do not consider the continuation or increasing the price to 65ppu as likely to have any significant negative impacts for island communities that were significantly different to communities on the mainland.

Public attitudes research commissioned by the Scottish Government in 2023 showed that 44% of people in the Highlands and Islands were in favour of, with 38% against MUP. The proportion of people in favour of MUP in Highlands and Islands was slightly higher than the average for Scotland (43%). ^[9]