Scotland Becomes First Country To Impose Minimum Price On Alcohol

Bad news for any Scottish LADs who love the sesh but aren't made of money, the SNP government has won a battle to introduce a minimum price on alcohol.

This means it's set to become the first country in the world with a lowest price for booze sales after the UK's highest court rejected an appeal from Scotch whisky manufacturers.

It ends a five-year legal struggle over the Scottish Government's plan to introduce a 50p minimum unit price for grog. Just to give an example of the hell Nicola Sturgeon is set to unleash, the move would mean that a bottle of Frosty Jacks - currently around £4 ($5.27) - would cost £11.25 ($14.80).

Credit: PA Images

The Supreme Court justices unanimously dismissed the appeal brought by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) and other drinks manufacturers. The SWA and alcohol producer bodies, spiritsEUROPE and Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins (CEEV), had argued that the minimum pricing legislation would be knocked back by EU law.

However, the judgement handed down by justice Lord Mance said that increasing alcohol price by an excise duty or Vat increase would not be 'equally' effective at targeting and preventing the sale of cheap alcohol.

"The Supreme Court unanimously dismisses the appeal. Lord Mance gives the judgement, with which the remaining six justices agree," the ruling said. "The 2012 Act does not breach EU law. Minimum pricing is a legitimate means of achieving a legitimate aim."

Representing the SWA at a July hearing in London, Aidan O'Neill QC told the justices: "We point out that there are a whole number of ways in which pricing can legitimately be used in accordance with EU law to achieve those aims."

But the Supreme Court said EU law makes provisions for law which "protects human life and health", meaning that after consulting with the Court of Justice of the European Union it said: "The Supreme Court concludes that an excise or tax would not constitute and equally effective way of achieving the regime's objectives.

"In agreement with the Lord Advocate, minimum pricing targets the health hazards of cheap alcohol and the groups most affected, in a way that an increase in excise or VAT would not."

The news comes after it was reported Buckfast tonic wine had been a significant factor in 40 percent of arrests of Scottish Prison Service inmates. Under the new legislation it will have to be sold for at least £5.63 ($7.41) a bottle.

Featured Image Credit: PA Images

Topics: UK News, Alcohol, Scotland

James Dawson

James Dawson is a Journalist at LADbible. He has contributed articles to LADbible’s ‘Knowing Me, Knowing EU’ series on the EU referendum, the 'Electoral Dysfunction' series on the 2017 general election, the ‘U OK M8?’ series tackling mental health amongst young men, and for its ‘Climate Change’ initiative in partnership with National Geographic.

@thejaytoday