SHOPKEEPERS at smaller stores have seen a varied response to 50p minimum unit alcohol pricing but believe it allows them to compete with bigger supermarkets, a study into the policy’s impact has found.

Some small retailers have said there has been little change to their sales of drinks most affected by the policy, while others have noticed a reduction or have just stopped stocking the products.

Where drinks such as high-strength cider had their price increased due to the policy, shopkeepers told a Stirling University study that increased profit margin often compensated for any reduced sales.

The research also found fewer shops prominently displaying the price on the packaging on the most-affected products.

But shopkeepers told researchers that they feel “better able to compete with prices in supermarkets”, according to Martine Stead, from the University of Stirling.

The deputy director at the Institute for Social Marketing and Health said the vast majority of small stores implemented the policy when it came into force in May 2018 “with little or no adverse effect on small businesses”.

She added: “Retailers reported they had reduced or stopped stocking some products which had seen particularly large increases in price after the implementation of minimum unit pricing, such as larger bottles of strong ciders.

“Overall we observed the most change amongst the high-strength cider and perry categories, which had typically been priced below minimum unit pricing.

“Small retailers reported some changes in purchasing patterns, such as customers moving from higher to lower strength alcohol products, to products in smaller containers or to products perceived to offer better value now they were sold at similar prices.”

Scotland’s Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick said: “The positive findings show these retailers have experienced little or no adverse effects from the introduction of minimum unit pricing, with many reporting they can now compete with supermarkets on price.”