Supreme Court rule that alcohol will be top buck
Scotland are the first to say the law stays
This week Scotland became the first country to create a minimum price on alcohol of 50p per unit.
Approved five years ago, it has taken until now for the UK Supreme Court judges to approve the legislation.
In a unanimous judgment, seven Supreme Court judges said the legislation did not breach European Union law.
The Scottish Government believes this crackdown on booze will help reduce binge drinking by raising the price of the strongest and cheapest alcohol. We hit the High Street to ask people what they thought.
Ayr shopper Keith Conner, 73 , said: “It’s the poor ones who will be most affected by it but maybe it’s the poorest ones who abuse it most?”
Ayr shopper Janet Lennon, 68, said: “I’m a tee- totaler, but we all say there’s more drinking in the youngsters nowadays - we didnt drink, we didn’t go into pubs and there were no off sales. There’s too much drinking going on.”
George Paton, 68, from Monkton said: “I drink in my local pub. I drink John Smith’s at £ 1.99 a pint. It won’t affect me, but it’s not good to put the prices up.”
Brodie Donohoe, 19, a student at UWS Ayr, said: “Students seem to buy the cheapest - like from Aldi, so it mighty affect them. For people who can afford it, they probably won’t be affected. It’s probably a good thing if it works. People with issues, it won’t stop them if they are that dependent on it.”
We didn’t drink, we didn’t go into pubs and there were no off sales Janet Lennon