Supreme Court decides on Scottish minimum alcohol pricing

[Northerner]

The UK's highest court will decide later whether Scotland can finally implement its policy of minimum pricing for alcohol.

Legislation was approved by the Scottish Parliament five years ago but it has been tied up in court challenges amid claims it breaches European law.

Ministers said a 50p-per-unit minimum would help tackle Scotland's "unhealthy relationship with drink".

The Supreme Court appeal was brought by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

It said the policy was a "restriction on trade" and there were more effective ways of tackling alcohol misuse.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-41981909

 

[mikeyB]

If the Supreme Court don’t allow this, all hell will break loose. If they do allow it, all hell will break loose.

Still, the seatbelt laws were accepted eventually, and the drink drive laws.

 

[mikeyB]

By the way, the SWA are pressing Mr Hammond to lower the tax on whisky in his budget.

 

[mikeyB]

Whoopee

The Supreme Court have decided unanimously that minimum pricing (50p per unit) is legal under European Law. Should be in law early next year. That will be the end of cheap superstrength ciders like White Lightning which blights our city streets. And the price of Buckie will go up.

Cross border smuggling?

 

[novorapidboi26]

WhoopeeAnd the price of Buckie will go up.

Not necessarily as Buckfast is already about £6.50 - £8.00, so that actually exceeds the 50p per unit minimum..... 😉

 

[mikeyB]

I must admit, I hadn’t priced it for around 45 years. I thought it was still cheap and nasty instead of pricey and nasty. If White Lightning turns out more expensive than Buckie, then the denizens of Sauchiehall St will all be as wired as hell. Should be fun, really jittery begging for change.

The Scotch Whisky Assiciation will not be objecting to this law, so I assume they won’t be affected. What the monks of Buckfast Abbey think will forever remain a mystery.