New study examines impact of Scotland's alcohol pricing policy
Published: 19 January 2026
The NIHR-funded study will evaluate the impact of Scotland increasing the Minimum Unit Price (MUP) for alcohol to 65p per unit in 2024.
A new NIHR-funded study led by the Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment (HEHTA) research group, will evaluate the impact of Scotland increasing the Minimum Unit Price (MUP) for alcohol to 65p per unit in 2024.
Building on evidence that MUP reduced alcohol consumption, deaths, and health inequalities after its introduction in 2018, the research will assess effects on drinking levels, alcohol-related ambulance callouts, hospital admissions and deaths, financial pressures on households, and alcohol-related health inequalities.
Using a natural experiment approach, outcomes in Scotland will be compared with England, where MUP is not in place, alongside public discussion groups to capture lived experience.
School of Health and Wellbneing researchers on the study include project lead Professor Jim Lewsey, Dr Francesco Manca, Dr Eliud Kibuchi, Professor Peter Craig, and Professor Daniel Mackay who will work alongside collaborators at the University of Sheffield, University of Stirling, and Public Health Scotland.
It is hoped the findings will help inform decisions about Governments' starting and uprating MUP in the future, as part of fair and effective alcohol policies to reduce harm and health inequalities.
The study starts on 1st February 2026 and will run for two years.
First published: 19 January 2026
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