Overview: Brewing, Whisky & Spirits

MUP was introduced by the Scottish Government in 2018 which meant every unit of alcohol had to be sold for at least 50p. This year, the Scottish Government announced they wanted to increase MUP this year to 65p per unit.

MUP was supposed to reduce alcohol related deaths. However, the evidence remains inconclusive, alcohol deaths have risen, and those with alcohol dependence have maintained their consumption and have given up heating and food.

Whilst Scotland does need action to tackle alcohol deaths, the action must meet its aims and must involve properly funded public services. It cannot come to the detriment of our members’ pay, the industry, and communities who rely on these jobs.

MUP – and an increase – has and will impact on pay, investment and growth in Brewing, Whisky and Spirits, one of Scotland’s most successful industries.

At 50p, a bottle of whisky must be sold for no less than £13.80. At 65p, the price will jump by £4.40 to £18.20 per bottle.

Increases in alcohol duty is also squeezing the sector. 73% of the average bottle of whisky is tax. Alcohol is therefore already the UK’s most taxed commodity.

GMB Scotland has called for MUP to be scrapped and for any increase in MUP to prioritise changes in peoples’ real terms incomes. Therefore, MUP must be NO MORE THAN 50p.

Increasing MUP from 50p to 65p is a 30% increase. But due to the cost-of-living crisis, peoples’ real terms incomes have only increased by 1.3% since 2018. A 30% increase is therefore unfair to working people who drink responsibly and an additional tax on the lowest earners.

Watch this space, GMB will be calling for the 30% increase to be scrapped, and for any changes to MUP to take account of changes in peoples’ real terms purchasing power.