It’s 1st October and the day when two new pieces of legislation come into effect, relating to tips for hospitality staff and minimum pricing in Scotland.
The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 will require hospitality businesses to distribute 100% of customer tips and service charges to staff, with no exceptions other than standard-rate tax deductions.
The changes also make it mandatory for all hospitality businesses to have a written policy, accessible to staff, on how tips are dealt with at their place of work.
In Scotland, minimum pricing has risen from 50p to 65p per unit as the government there maintains its campaign to cut down the ill effects of alcohol misuse.
The Scottish Beer and Pub Association, however, says the rise is unwelcome for both producers and consumers at a time of financial strain.
“The evaluation of MUP (minimum unit pricing) showed very little evidence of the policy having a positive effect on health outcomes and comes at a time when other parts of the world are deciding to ditch similar policies,” said a spokesperson.
“The industry is dedicated to reducing alcohol-related harms, but we remain unconvinced that increasing MUP is a proportionate and effective measure to deliver this.”
