The Health Committee in Scotland met yesterday to discuss stage one of the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill. The Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament on 1 November 2011. The main purpose is to introduce a minimum price below which alcohol cannot be sold.  The higher the amount of units the drink contains, the stronger it is and therefore the more expensive it will be. At present the proposal is 45p per unit.

Health and economics experts gave evidence both for and against the bill. There will be further meetings on 17, 24 and 31 January 2012 prior to a report being published at the end of February. The Bill will potentially not only affect Scottish drinkers.  The Prime Minister David Cameron has recently requested officials develop a minimum pricing scheme in England similar to that proposed in Scotland.