HEALTH campaigners have called for the minimum price for alcohol to be increased to at least 65p per unit.

Alcohol Focus Scotland made the plea ahead of the third anniversary of minimum unit pricing (MUP) being introduced.

Scotland was the first country in the world to bring in the public health measure on May 1, 2018 – but the minimum price alcohol can be sold at has not changed from the initial level of 50p a unit.

The policy came into force after a lengthy legal challenge and the 50p level was first proposed by ministers back in 2012. Alcohol Focus Scotland said if it had kept pace with inflation, the MUP would now be 61p. It said evidence so far shows MUP appears to be having the intended effect. Consumption of alcohol has fallen and hospital admissions for drink-related liver conditions have decreased.

A 10% fall in alcohol-related deaths in 2019, with 1020 fatalities compared to 1136 the previous year, is also cited as evidence that the policy is saving live.

The Scottish Government had been set to review the MUP after two years, but Alcohol Focus Scotland said this was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

It is now calling on the next Scottish government to up the level to “at least” 65p, as well as committing to increasing it in line with inflation.