European court to decide on Scottish minimum alcohol pricing

The Scottish government’s policy on minimum alcohol pricing has come under fire, with a legal challenge against the ruling referred to a European court to decide. Already some reports have suggested that a pricing policy can help to reduce crime and hospital admissions.

The case was raised by the Scotch Whisky Association, which claims that alcohol pricing breaches European law. The Scotch Whisky Association is a dominant force in the industry, with 90% of Scotland’s whisky production controlled by its members. Two major European wine and spirit organisations are also appealing.

Holyrood maintains its stance that Scotland needs to set a minimum price on alcohol to help Scottish people to end their “unhealthy relationship with drink”, however.

There could now be a delay of two years before the Scottish government can set a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol.

Alex Neil, the Scottish health secretary, has said that he is frustrated by the challenge; however, he plans to see the decision through. He explained: “The first time we went to the court of session they gave us a ringing endorsement and were very clear that what we were doing was perfectly legitimate in law, and I’m very confident we will end up with that decision being reinforced in two years’ time.”

Scotland approved the plans to set a minimum price for alcohol in May 2012 but legal challenges have delayed the changes by two years already. Scotland certainly needs to do something about its alcohol problem and currently the only option on the table is to price people out of binge drinking.