(Photo: Alcohol being poured into glass. Credit: Pexels)

The Scottish government to  introduce a minimum pricing policy for alcohol drinks, that will take place on 1st May next year,  Leanne Cresswell reports

Minimum pricing is targeted on the cheaper but stronger drinks that can be brought in supermarkets and off-licences, such as cheap cider and spirits. With the Scottish governments hopeful plans to fix the minimum price at 50p per unit, the move will raise the cost of these drinks, leaving the more expensive drinks unaffected.

Research carried out by Alcohol Focus Scotland suggested that the maximum recommended intake of alcohol of 14 units, could be bought for £2.52. Purchases such as own-branded Vodka and cheap ciders, are available from as little as 18p per.

If the minimum pricing for drinks was introduced in England, the cost of wine would raise to £4.15 and a can of larger would cost £1. A pack of £3.50 fosters would become nonexistent, as well as £2.50 Tesco value wine.

Scottish student at London Southbank University, Finlay Macauly,  prefers to purchase cheap own-branded alcohol, which suits his student budget. “I think that the government in Scotland are targeting students and the poorer people who are looking for cheaper drinks”, he says. “They are trying to solve the ‘trauma’ that the cheap drinks sometimes cause, but I don’t think it will fix the problem.”

Business student, Ben Harrow, claims that he wouldn’t mind if the law was introduced in England. “I’m a student and I like getting drunk. If the minimum pricing of alcoholic drinks was introduced here, it wouldn’t stop me from purchasing alcohol. ”

Although there are no official plans to bring the minimum pricing of alcohol to England, it’s clear that it would have a direct impact on students and their drinking habits.