Minimum price of alcoholS

3Report on operation and effect of minimum pricing provisionsS

(1)The Scottish Ministers must, as soon as practicable after the end of the 5 year period, lay before the Scottish Parliament a report on the operation and effect of the minimum pricing provisions during that period.

(2)The report must, in particular, contain information about the effect that the operation of the minimum pricing provisions has had on—

(a)the licensing objectives specified in section 4 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 (“the 2005 Act”),

(b)such categories of person as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate, and

(c)the businesses of—

(i)holders of premises licenses granted under the 2005 Act, and

(ii)producers of alcohol.

(3)The categories mentioned in subsection (2)(b) may be determined by reference to characteristics including—

(a)age,

(b)gender,

(c)social and economic deprivation,

(d)alcohol consumption, and

(e)such other characteristics as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.

(4)In preparing the report, the Scottish Ministers must consult—

(a)such persons as appear to them to be representative of the interests of—

(i)holders of premises licenses granted under the 2005 Act,

(ii)producers of alcohol,

(b)such persons as they consider appropriate having functions in relation to—

(i)health,

(ii)prevention of crime,

(iii)education,

(iv)social work,

(v)children and young people, and

(c)such other persons (if any) as they consider appropriate.

(5)The Scottish Ministers must, as soon as practicable after the report has been laid before the Parliament, publish the report in such manner as they consider appropriate.

(6)In this section, “the 5 year period” and “the minimum pricing provisions” have the meanings given in section 2(5).