MUP in Scotland did not lead to major ‘booze cruise runs’

Minimum unit pricing of alcohol (MUP) in Scotland did not lead to major bulk buying across the border in England as expected, stated a recent study.

There were concerns voiced prior to the introduction of MUP in May 2018 that it might see an increase in “booze cruises” in the border places in England, including in north Northumberland.

However, according to a study published by Public Health Scotland (PHS), any cross-border purchasing was “minimal”.

The study found that people travelling outside Scotland to buy alcohol was not happening on a scale to have an impact on the intended outcomes of the policy in reducing consumption and saving lives.

While households in close proximity to the border witnessed cross-border purchasing, it reflected “established shopping habits”, says the report.

None of them surveyed retailers knew of people from Scotland travelling to England to buy large quantities of alcohol.

The study further showed that “substantial bulk purchasing” would be needed for individuals to make significant savings once travel or delivery costs were taken into account.

It also found it had not had a major impact on the number of off-licence premises on either side of the border.

“The research published today shows that while cross-border purchasing does happen, the extent is small relative to the purchasing behaviours of Scotland’s population as a whole,” BBC quoted Helen Chung Patterson, public health intelligence adviser at PHS, as saying.

“A key strength of this report is that it enables us to build up a picture of cross-border alcohol-purchasing behaviours from several perspectives.

“We have examined data on retail sales and alcohol licensing near the border, drawn on qualitative interviews with retailers, gathered customer survey data and explored the factors affecting in-person and online cross-border purchases.”