Supreme Court rejects Scotch Whisky Association bid to stop minimum pricing of alcohol

The Scotch Whisky Association took its case to the Supreme Court, the final stage in the legal process to block the Scottish Government’s plan to impose a 50p per unit minimum price,

The Court today rejected the appeal and said the Scottish Government plan was appropriate and within EU law.

The judgement said “minimum pricing easier to understand easier to enforce”.

IT stated that minimum pricing targeted the health hazards of cheap alcohol in a way the tax system would not.

Seven Supreme Court judges were unanimous in their decision.

The Act was first passed in 2012 but a series of legal challenged by the SWA through the courts has delayed it being put in place.

The SWA argued it was contrary to EU law on restricting trade.

However the Court decided it was compatible and that the objective of the law was “legitimate and appropriate”.