EU court snubs law for alcohol minimum pricing

Plans to introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol in Scotland face further delay, following an initial ruling by Europe's highest court. The European Court of Justice advocate general, Yves Bot, said on 3 September 2015 that the move risked infringing EU rules on free trade. In an official opinion, he said minimum pricing would only be legal if it could be shown no other mechanism could protect public health.

The European Court is expected to take up to six months to issue its final ruling, before the case is referred back to the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

The Scottish Parliament passed legislation in 2012 which set a minimum unit price of GBP 0.50. It was challenged by the Scottish Whisky Association, when it argued that it acted as a barrier to trade.