Trade bodies brand Scottish endorsement of minimum pricing bill "disappointing".

Published: 25 May, 2012

Leading trade bodies have questioned the legality of the Scottish minimum pricing bill, and described the measure as "disappointing" and "misguided" as the parliament gave it a ringing endorsement.

The Bill is set to take effect from as early as April next year, after the 50p rate was passed yesterday.

The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Scottish Greens all voted alongside the Scottish National party at Holyrood, and the bill is expected to get royal assent later next month. Labour was the only party to abstain.

Scottish health secretary Nicola Strgeon said: "Minimum pricing will kickstart a change by addressing a fundamental part of our alcohol culture - the availability of high-strength, low-cost alcohol."

WSTA interim chief executive Gavin Partington, said: "While the introduction of minimum unit pricing has been approved by the parliament, questions remain about its legality and effectiveness in tackling the root causes of alcohol misuse.

"It is disappointing that so much time has been devoted to minimum unit pricing when there are many proven, effective and targeted measures that could already have been implemented by the Scottish Government to begin tackling alcohol misuse."

Gavin Hewitt, chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association: "It's disappointing that the Scottish government has pressed ahead with its misguided Minimum Unit Pricing policy. MUP has consistently been found to be illegal in Europe.

"We look forward to the scrutiny of both the principle of MUP and the regulation setting the price by the European Commission and the member states of the European Union. We expect legal challenges to emerge once the Scottish government notifies its proposals to the EC. We hope the UK government will take due note and drop its own proposals for minimum pricing of alcohol."

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