02-Nov-2009 By Ewan Turney
Heavy drinkers are paying just 34p for a unit of alcohol — primarily from supermarkets — a new study has revealed. The study of 377 people, all...
Scotland undeterred on minimum price plan
19-Oct-2009 By Matt Eley Matt
The Scottish government has hit back at claims its plans to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol could be scuppered by a new European Commission...
Roy Beers: Scottish minimum pricing carries a sting in the tail for pubs
29-Sep-2009
The latest press release from the Scottish Government trumpeting the hoped-for benefits of minimum pricing comes up with the curiously exact figure...
OFT chief warns against minimum pricing
15-Sep-2009
Any move to set a minimum price for alcohol is likely to be strongly challenged by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). John Fingleton, OFT chief...
EC: minimum pricing can be legal
09-Sep-2009 By John Harrington
The European Commission says EU competition law won't stop countries setting a minimum price of alcohol as long as certain conditions are met. The...
Scotland's minimum price plan confirmed
03-Sep-2009 By Matt Eley Matt
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond today confirmed the government's plans to introduce minimum pricing to tackle alcohol problems north of the...
20-Aug-2009 By Tony Halstead
Rotherham licensees are being asked to sign up to a "voluntary" code of conduct that includes a form of minimum pricing at £1 per drink. The code,...
SNP welcomes 'cross-party' minimum price support
17-Aug-2009 By Matt Eley Matt
Indications of cross-party support for minimum pricing in Scotland have been welcomed by the Scottish National Party (SNP). Reports in the Glasgow...
Trade chiefs hit back at 'happy hours' documentary
11-Aug-2009 By Matt Eley Matt
Trade chiefs have labelled suggestions that blanket licence reviews and minimum pricing could be introduced across the country - following the...
Minimum pricing - the issue that won't go away
09-Jul-2009 By James Wilmore
Would 80p be an acceptable level for a minimum price on a unit of alcohol? Should pubs be forced to cap the amount they charge for soft drinks? How...
16-Jun-2009 By John Harrington
An influential Labour MP has told a Home Office minister he's "disappointed" the Government has failed to push ahead with minimum pricing of alcohol....
03-Jun-2009 By John Harrington
The case for having minimum pricing of alcohol is "weak" and previous studies about its impact have been "overestimated". That's according to a new...
Economic case for minimum pricing on alcohol is "weak", say finance experts
03-Jun-2009 By Hamish Champ
Leading economists have claimed that minimum pricing on alcohol products will not deter 'problem drinkers' from drinking excessively and will simply...
Scots minister committed to minimum pricing
01-May-2009 By Matt Eley Matt
Scottish Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill has slammed irresponsible supermarket promotions and vowed to continue with plans to introduce minimum...
01-May-2009 By John Harrington
Scottish Government Justice Minister tells trade groups that they "will not be dictated to by armchair lawyers or those on the payroll of the alcohol industry".
Gilmore: Minimum pricing would not harm pubs
23-Apr-2009
Reports in the national media suggesting pub prices would be hit by minimum pricing of alcohol are misleading, according to one of Britain's top...
03-Apr-2009 By Ewan Turney
Top Scots docs believe the introduction of a minimum price on alcohol is "essential" to combating alcohol problems north of the border.
26-Mar-2009 By Stephen Crawley
The general chat around tackling alcohol-related harm through adopting a minimum pricing policy is an interesting catch-all topic. Minimum pricing...
Minimum pricing debate re-ignites
19-Mar-2009 By James Wilmore
Minimum pricing has leapt to the top of the political agenda after the UK's top doctor urged the government to introduce the measure as an "immediate...
BII backs minimum pricing
19-Mar-2009 By John Harrington
The BII has given its backing to plans for a minimum pricing of alcohol. The issue remains on the radar after Gordon Brown said he wasn't keen on the...
BII members in favour of minimum pricing
19-Mar-2009 By Matt Eley Matt
Members of the BII are in favour of minimum pricing, according to chief executive Neil Roberston. The BII boss, who took over from John McNamara...
'Police warning over pub break-ins'
18-Mar-2009
Police have warned landlords that a series of break-ins at public houses in Lincolnshire may be connected. Thieves stole £200 and bottles of spirits...
'Wales to push for minimum price'
17-Mar-2009
Wales continues to push for increased powers over the sale of alcohol despite Gordon Brown backing away from plans for minimum pricing. Assembly...
16-Mar-2009 By John Harrington
The Prime Minister speaks out against calls for a 50p-per-unit minimum price.
Scottish licensees back minimum pricing
12-Mar-2009
Controversial proposals to introduce minimum pricing in Scotland have been welcomed by licensees north of the border. Last week Scottish Justice...
Roy Beers: Hooray for the SNP - it's giving minimum pricing to Britain
06-Mar-2009
I hope it works, even if I don't think it will make a decisive difference to Scotland's massive overall drink problem, and that it works well enough...
03-Mar-2009 By Ewan Turney
Scottish proposals to introduce minimum pricing and restrict off-trade sales undermine individual judgement and accountability — the fundamentals...
The word on the street
20-Nov-2008
Support for our Make it the Minimum campaign which calls for a minimum price of 50p on every unit of alcohol sold continues to grow.The aim of...
20-Nov-2008 By Peter Coulson
Minimum pricing by legislation could only work if all situations to which it applied were similar, says Peter Coulson.
11-Nov-2008 By Ewan Turney
Minimum pricing is an untested and untargeted tool and a ban on below cost selling of alcohol would be far more effective — that's the view of the...
10-Nov-2008 By John Harrington
Off-trade chief hits out at minimum pricing plans, and takes a swipe at pubs and clubs that are "often the sources of insobriety".
10-Nov-2008 By John Harrington
The party also backs minimum pricing in its new alcohol plan
ALMR chief rejects calls for minimum pricing
31-Oct-2008
Trade leader Nick Bish has claimed that a ban on below-cost selling, rather than minimum pricing, would be the most effective way to tackle...
Noctis chief backs Make it the Minimum
29-Oct-2008 By Matt Eley Matt
A nightclub trade chief has said his members would be happy to see minimum pricing introduced to remove discount deals from the business. Jon...
Asda under fire over minimum pricing
21-Oct-2008
An Asda chief has come under fire for saying the chain will not support a minimum pricing policy because it is not in the interests of its...
Minimum pricing: the thin end of the wedge?
10-Oct-2008 By James Wilmore
In the government's attempts to tackle the problems around alcohol, one solution has provoked more reaction than most. Minimum pricing.A significant...
CAMRA calls for minimum pricing
11-Sep-2008 By Matt Eley Matt
Minimum pricing should be introduced to reduce the gap between supermarket and pub prices, according to the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). The...
01-Aug-2008 By John Harrington
Current pressures on the Government suggest it is seriously considering minimum pricing again. What's the background? Minimum pricing, where...
01-Aug-2008 By John Harrington
Ministers and officials have been warned against pushing for minimum pricing of alcohol — by the Government department responsible for business....
18-Jun-2008 By Ewan Turney
Scottish Beer and Pub Association also slams concept of a social responsibility fee
Minimum pricing plan could have domino effect
20-May-2008 By Matt Eley Matt
If plans to introduce minimum pricing in the Scottish off-trade go ahead the rest of the country would soon follow suit, according to John Grogan MP....
Minimum pricing 'looks more likely'
10-Apr-2008 By John Harrington john.harrington@william-reed.co.u
Gov't may push for change this summer There is "quite a possibility" that Government will push for a minimum price for the sale of alcohol this...
OFT denies agreement on minimum pricing
07-Apr-2008 By James Wilmore
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has denied it has given government ministers the green light to introduce minimum pricing on alcohol. Weekend press...
Budget will cause 8,000 pub closures
03-Apr-2008 By James Wilmore
A pubco chief has today sent out a "Mayday warning" to the government, claiming that 8,000 pubs face closure as a result of the Budget. Speaking to...
Minimum price for alcohol to be discussed in parliament
26-Mar-2008 By James Wilmore
Supermarkets, health groups and Treasury officials are being invited to discuss the idea of minimum pricing for alcohol at a seminar in the House of...
Clarity' sought by LGA on price-fixing powers
14-Apr-2005
by John Harrington The Local Government Asso-ciation (LGA) has called for clarification on the powers that councils have to impose minimum pricing,...
Committee raises pressure on pricing
07-Apr-2005
Minimum pricing and paid-for-policing were back on the agenda for publicans this week following a new slating of the pub trade from MPs.The Home...
Scotland could set pricing
17-Feb-2005
Local authorities in Scotland could be allowed to set minimum pricing under new legislation. Licensing boards may also be given the power to close...
Setting the record straight on pricing
17-Feb-2005
I am not sure that I entirely agree with the conclusions of the front page story last week on minimum pricing, and in particular that the Office of...
Edinburgh told not to set prices
20-Jan-2005
A new report advises Edinburgh City Council to scrap plans to enforce minimum pricing on pubs and clubs in the city and crack down on...