Minimum pricing of alcohol began on 01 May 2018.
This is a mandatory condition of selling alcohol and is reflected in new mandatory conditions.
The minimum unit price (MUP) is 50p – the stronger the alcohol (higher units), the more expensive it is. This means that licence holders have to sell alcohol at no less than 50p per unit. It can be sold at more than that, but not less.
Licence holders must price the alcohol they sell accordingly.
Examples of how prices may change are noted below.
Example prices
- 700ml bottle of spirits (28 UK units)
MUP = £14.00
- 750ml bottle of fortified wine (12.8 UK units)
MUP = £6.40
- 750ml bottle of table wine (9 UK units)
MUP = £4.50
- 275ml bottle of lager/beer/cider (1.4 UK units)
MUP = £0.70
- 330ml bottle of lager/beer/cider (1.7 UK units)
MUP = £0.85
- 330ml can of lager/beer/cider (1.7 UK units)
MUP = £0.85
- Multi-pack of 24 x 330ml cans of lager/beer/cider (1.7 UK units)
MUP = £20.40
- 175ml glass of wine (2.1 UK units)
MUP = £1.05
- 25ml glass of spirit (1 UK unit)
MUP = £0.50
Formula: No. of units multiplied by 0.50, eg 28 units x 0.50 = 14