Scotland has several measures aimed at reducing alcohol consumption and abuse, such as minimum unit pricing and restrictions on the sale of these beverages.
In Scotland, customers visiting a shop or supermarket can only purchase alcohol within certain hours, with bars, pubs and clubs being exempt from this particular rule.
If you're looking to buy a couple of beers but aren't sure if you will be able to or are just curious about the times, here is when you can buy alcohol in Scotland.
What is minimum unit pricing and how does it work?
According to the Scottish Government website, minimum unit pricing, which was introduced in 2018, works by adding an extra 65 pence per unit of alcohol onto the price of a beverage (This increased from 50 pence in 2024).
This means the more alcohol present in the drink, the higher the price.
Minimum unit pricing sets a "floor price" for a unit of alcohol, meaning it cannot be sold for less than this.
What is the drink drive limit in Scotland and what penalties are there?
The law in Scotland states that drivers getting behind the wheel of a vehicle cannot exceed:
- 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
- 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
- 67 milligrams per 100 millilitres of urine.
Exceeding this may result in fines of up to £2500, a jail term of up to three months and a possible driving ban for those just sitting behind the wheel.
Those driving while under the influence of alcohol could face up to six months in prison, a fine of up to £5000 and a driving ban of up to one year.
Causing death with a vehicle while intoxicated is punishable by an additional 14 years in prison.
Recommended Reading:
- How does minimum unit pricing work and when can I buy alcohol in Scotland?
- What is the legal drink drive limit in Scotland and what penalties are there?
When can you buy alcohol in Scottish shops?
Those looking to buy alcohol at supermarkets and shops across Scotland can only do so within certain hours.
At the time of writing, purchases of alcohol outside of hospitality settings can only be made between the hours of 10am and 10pm.
This is true for corner shops and supermarket chains like Tesco, Aldi, and Asda.
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