To ask the Minister of Health to outline the evidence base in favour of Minimum Unit Pricing for alcohol, including reference to early indications of its effectiveness in Scotland.

My Department previously commissioned a report from the University of Sheffield which concluded that a Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) for alcohol would be effective in reducing alcohol consumption, alcohol-related harms (including alcohol-related deaths, hospitalisations, crimes and workplace absences) and the costs associated with those harms. This report is available in full on the DoH website at:https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/dhssps/alcohol-and-drug-mup-ni-report-from-university-of-sheffield.pdf

MUP has been in place in Scotland from May 2018. With the first evaluation results now being published, initial signs are very encouraging that it is an effective measure, however it is still too early to be definitive.

Once finalised, NI’s forthcoming new Substance Use Strategy will contain my commitment to have a full consultation on MUP within the next year. This consultation will examine a range of possible options in respect of alcohol pricing, including consideration of the emerging evidence of the effectiveness of MUP from Scotland and elsewhere. Any policy considerations arising from the consultation will be brought to the Executive in due course.