Public support, political silence: alcohol policy and the 2026 Scottish election

Alcohol is a major, neglected driver of preventable harm in the UK and internationally, and these harms fall disproportionately on disadvantaged communities.1 2 Yet, political action remains limited in most contexts.3 Scotland provides an important case study; with some of the highest alcohol-related mortality rates in Western Europe, alcohol-specific deaths reached their highest level since 2008 in 2023.2 Yet, the May 2026 parliamentary election debates suggest the disconnect between alcohol-related harm and policy attention is increasingly stark.4 Despite an international reputation for innovation, including minimum unit pricing (MUP), policy momentum has slowed. In short, Scotland illustrates a broader challenge: sustaining effective action on alcohol as a key commercial determinant of health when industry actors continually work to shape policy and public opinion.^{3 5}

Alcohol-related harms are strongly patterned by deprivation2 and extend beyond health to…

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