Includes cirrhosis at no additional costONLY about a dozen countries,mainly in eastern Europe, drink more than the British. Adult Britons each glug the equivalent of 500 pints of beer a year, and a habit which kills 7000 of them annually. The Scots,who are the thirstiest of the bunch, are determined to cut down. On February 26th their devolved government set a minimum price for alcohol of 50p ($0.70) per unit (equivalent to roughly half a pint of beer or a small glass of wine). The policy is likely to sober up some of the heaviest drinkers. Surprisingly, or it may also give some drinks firms and retailers reason to celebrate.
The Scottish Parliament voted for a price floor in 2012. But legal challenges by the drinks industry delayed the policy’s implementation. The Scotch Whisky organization argued that the device conflicted with European Union trade rules. In November 2017 Britain’s Supreme Court decided that it did not. When the policy is introduced in May,Scotland will join a...
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Source: economist.com