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Alcohol laws Scotland - Incorrect Pricing

Hello all, 

A handful of times over the last year I've been given what seems like a scripted response to asking stores to change the price of alcohol. 

To clarify, this is when there is an advertised price in store, but at checkout the price is more expensive than the ticket on the shelf. 

"Due to licensing laws we're unable to change the price of the product"

Is this a scam that stores are running now? Marking a product at a lower price to get you to buy it and either not notice or accept the new price or is it as the old saying goes " don't put to malice which can be explained by incompetence" ?

Most of my Google searches lead me to the Scot gov website on MUP which tells me only that they can't charge less than 65p per unit. 

The bottle of wine I wanted to buy was on offer at £6 at 12% meaning the 750ml bottles MUP is £5.85 which is within the law. 

Since the staff don't seem to be able to tell me what law they're referring to, can anyone else help me?

Is there some blanket law that says you can't alter the price at a till? 

What have I missed?

Thanks in advance. 

Comments

  • Hi
    you've stated the bottle you wanted to buy was on offer at £6 at 12% can I clarify if the 12% your mentioning is the strength of the actual wine ? ... as MUP is based on the amount of units in the wine and not the actual strength of the wine.
    There are on average 9 - 10 units in an average 750ml bottle of wine which would mean that a 750ml bottle of wine with 9 units in it would have to retail on the high street for at least £5.85 & 10 units would be £6.50 etc.
    Please also bare in mind that a shop can charge what ever they want for any item regardless of any MUP as long as they are not breaking the law then it is up to you to decide if the item in question is worth it or if you take your business elsewhere to find it cheaper.

  • igloo1176
    igloo1176 Posts: 8 Forumite
    First Post
    edited 3 December 2024 at 8:26AM
    I've taken the MUP calculation from the Scottish gov site - https://www.mygov.scot/minimum-unit-pricing


    They also direct you to a MUP calculator here: https://www.sgfscot.co.uk/advice/mup-calculator.

    Both of these calculations align with the price of £5.85.... where are you getting the info on your calc?

    Stores can of course charge what they like, I get that. I'm asking what's stopping them changing the price that is on signage across the store when it's incorrect when you scan it through. 

    What part of the law are they referring to and how does it apply to being unable to change the price of alcohol?

    In all the cases I've seen it appears that the store didn't update the barcode to reflect the price therefore *someone* should be able to make that change 
  • Largs
    Largs Posts: 370 Forumite
    100 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 3 December 2024 at 8:30AM
    I have to say I live in Scotland and for past few years also now holiday all over Scotland and the price on the shelf is what I am charged at the tills.  It does seem odd you are experiecing something different.
  • igloo1176 said:
    Hello all, 

    A handful of times over the last year I've been given what seems like a scripted response to asking stores to change the price of alcohol. 

    To clarify, this is when there is an advertised price in store, but at checkout the price is more expensive than the ticket on the shelf. 

    "Due to licensing laws we're unable to change the price of the product"

    Is this a scam that stores are running now? Marking a product at a lower price to get you to buy it and either not notice or accept the new price or is it as the old saying goes " don't put to malice which can be explained by incompetence" ?

    Most of my Google searches lead me to the Scot gov website on MUP which tells me only that they can't charge less than 65p per unit. 

    The bottle of wine I wanted to buy was on offer at £6 at 12% meaning the 750ml bottles MUP is £5.85 which is within the law. 

    Since the staff don't seem to be able to tell me what law they're referring to, can anyone else help me?

    Is there some blanket law that says you can't alter the price at a till? 

    What have I missed?

    Thanks in advance. 

    It can be changed.

    Women in front of me was getting that done on Saturday.  She had been charged more than the shelf price for a bottle of brandy and was getting a refund for the difference.  

    It is also possible that the shelf price is incorrect and the till price correct on occasion. 


    Things that are differerent: draw & drawer, brought & bought, loose & lose, dose & does, payed & paid


  • Largs said:
    I have to say I live in Scotland and for past few years also now holiday all over Scotland and the price on the shelf is what I am charged at the tills.  It does seem odd you are experiecing something different.
    I'm not really sure what to say to that 🤔 

    igloo1176 said:
    Hello all, 

    A handful of times over the last year I've been given what seems like a scripted response to asking stores to change the price of alcohol. 

    To clarify, this is when there is an advertised price in store, but at checkout the price is more expensive than the ticket on the shelf. 

    "Due to licensing laws we're unable to change the price of the product"

    Is this a scam that stores are running now? Marking a product at a lower price to get you to buy it and either not notice or accept the new price or is it as the old saying goes " don't put to malice which can be explained by incompetence" ?

    Most of my Google searches lead me to the Scot gov website on MUP which tells me only that they can't charge less than 65p per unit. 

    The bottle of wine I wanted to buy was on offer at £6 at 12% meaning the 750ml bottles MUP is £5.85 which is within the law. 

    Since the staff don't seem to be able to tell me what law they're referring to, can anyone else help me?

    Is there some blanket law that says you can't alter the price at a till? 

    What have I missed?

    Thanks in advance. 

    It can be changed.

    Women in front of me was getting that done on Saturday.  She had been charged more than the shelf price for a bottle of brandy and was getting a refund for the difference.  

    It is also possible that the shelf price is incorrect and the till price correct on occasion. 


    That's strange. I've had this happen 2 or 3 times in Aldi and once in Asda. 

    I'm going to have to assume the store has marked it at a price it should never have been and don't want to change it. 

    Thanks for the replies. 
  • DullGreyGuy
    DullGreyGuy Posts: 15,619 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    It happens all the time in our local Coop, not Scotland. They are just really bad at taking the promotional tags down. Wine is ok as you can see the offer end date under the promo but for liquor its more difficult because its behind the counter so too far too see the date. 

    They are also bad at putting the promos up too though so sometimes you get an unexpected £2 off a bottle. Certainly in that store's situation the till not the shelf is the one thats correct. 
  • molerat
    molerat Posts: 33,506 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I suspect the problem is the penalty for a pricing infringement is way below the penalty for an alcohol sale infringement and staff are not allowed to do anything that could possibly risk the latter.
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