Motion 12
Unit Pricing
“That this Congress agrees that there have been positive consequences of minimum unit pricing in Scotland. However, because it is a levy and not a tax, the revenue does not benefit the people of Scotland.
“Studies show that Alcohol is implicated in 37% of offences (in 2021/22) where victims stated they thought the offender to have been under the influence of alcohol, though this has reduced substantially since 2009 (63%).
“Alcohol is also strongly implicated in sexual crimes and we know that alcohol is also implicated in domestic violence, a recent Swedish study showing that men with severe alcohol use disorders were six or seven times more likely to commit intimate partner violence.
“Currently, retailers retain the additional revenue from minimum unit pricing - 65p per unit of alcohol - estimated to raise £46.5 million per year. Alcohol use costs the Scottish economy up to £10 billion each year, including up to £700 million in health and social care costs.
“An alcohol harm prevention levy on alcohol retailers through a public health supplement on non-domestic rates could raise £57m per year for local prevention, treatment services, and recovery support.
“Congress agrees that the ‘tax’ revenue raised from minimum unit pricing should be spent in Scotland for the public good rather than going into the pockets of retailers and calls on the General Council to lobby the Scottish Government so that the tax raised is used to offset the cost of alcohol to our NHS, social care services and other public bodies.”
Mover: Paisley Trades Union Council
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