The UK Supreme Court has today ruled that minimum unit pricing for alcohol in Scotland, which was passed overwhelmingly by the Scottish Parliament in 2012, can now proceed.
Following the backing of the highest court in Scotland – and a referral to the European Court of Justice – the UK Supreme Court has now dismissed an appeal by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), ruling that the proposed minimum unit pricing policy is appropriately targeted, lawful and proportionate.
The move is a response by the Scottish Parliament to tackle the nation’s level of drinking by raising the price of cheap, super-strength alcohol.
It is estimated that alcohol misuse costs Scotland £3.6 billion a year. Its drinking problem is far worse than the rest of the UK. In 2016, 17% more alcohol was sold per adult in Scotland than in England and Wales.
The Scottish Government anticipates setting the minimum unit price at 50 pence per unit, subject to the outcome of a consultation.
Scottish Parliament health secretary Shona Robison welcomed the decision and confirmed she intends to make a statement to Parliament shortly, setting out the Scottish Government’s next steps.
“This is a historic and far-reaching judgement and a landmark moment in our ambition to turn around Scotland’s troubled relationship with alcohol,” she said.
“In a ruling of global significance, the UK Supreme Court has unanimously backed our pioneering and life-saving alcohol pricing policy.”
She added: “Given the clear and proven link between consumption and harm, minimum pricing is the most effective and efficient way to tackle the cheap, high strength alcohol that causes so much damage to so many families.”
Following a five-year legal battle, the SWA has accepted the minimum unit pricing ruling.
SWA chief executive Karen Betts said: “Looking ahead, the Scotch whisky industry will continue to work in partnership with the Government and the voluntary sector to promote responsible drinking and to tackle alcohol-related harm.
“We will now look to the Scottish and UK Governments to support the industry against the negative effects of trade barriers being raised in overseas markets that discriminate against Scotch whisky as a consequence of minimum pricing, and to argue for fair competition on our behalf.
“This is vital in order that the jobs and investment the industry provides in Scotland are not damaged. At home, we hope to see an objective assessment of the impact of MUP.”
Scotch whisky is the UK’s biggest food and drink export and in the first half of the year export value increased by 3.4% to £1.8 billion.
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