McAskill in bitter spat over whisky firms’ price protest
ONE of the architects of the Scottish Government’s plan to increase the price of alcohol has attacked the whisky industry for fighting the proposals.
A two-day hearing into the Government’s proposal to introduce a minimum price of 50p per unit for all alcohol is due to conclude at the Supreme Court in London today.
Former justice secretary Kenny MacAskill yesterday accused the Scotch Whisky Association of ‘disgraceful’ actions by taking the issue all the way to the highest court in the UK in a five-year legal wrangle.
But opponents accused him of an ‘unacceptable’ attack on one of Scotland’s most valuable industries.
Mr MacAskill, who worked with then health secretary Nicola Sturgeon to bring forward legislation for minimum pricing in 2012, said: ‘I think (the SWA’s) behaviour has been quite disgraceful.
‘This isn’t about protecting Scotch whisky, this is about protecting cheap alcohol sales.
‘Because what we also have to remember is members of the Scotch Whisky Association are also large alcohol-producing companies and they are protecting their interests because somebody sells the cheap vodka, somebody sells the cheap ciders – and it is the same people who own and manufacture Scotch whisky.
‘This is nothing to do with protecting the interests of Scotch whisky, it is all to do with protecting the interests and the profits of major alcohol producers and retailers.’
The SWA believes the proposed legislation contravenes EU regulations, potentially acting as a restriction on the free movement of goods, and argues that better options are already available to the Government.
Under the plans, the cheapest bottle of wine would be £4.69, a pack of four 500ml cans of beer would cost at least £4 and a bottle of whisky could not be sold for less than £14.
But Mr MacAskill said the Government would need to review the 50p price, claiming ‘further changes’ may be required and that ‘the value of the unit may require to be increased to take into account inflation’.
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Miles Briggs said: ‘You can hardly blame an organisation such as the Scotch Whisky Association for bringing this challenge forward, especially given the knock-on consequences it could have for their members.
‘For a former SNP cabinet secretary to attack them in this way is totally unacceptable, especially when the whisky industry has done so much to boost our economy.’
During yesterday’s case, Aidan O’Neill, QC, for the SWA, said minimum pricing is ‘disproportionate’ and illegal under European law.
He said: ‘It is a political decision that pricing should be used to decrease alcohol consumption and improve public health.
‘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.’
SWA chief executive Karen Betts said: ‘The Scotch whisky industry is an export-focused industry – 90 per cent of Scotch is exported to 182 markets overseas – and we rely on open markets and free trade to sell successfully around the world.
‘Minimum pricing schemes amount to non-tariff trade barriers and this is of real concern to our industry.’
The Supreme Court is expected to reach a verdict later this year.
Health Secretary Shona Robison said: ‘We’re looking forward to the judgment ... and if it is the positive outcome we hope for, we will move as quickly as is practicable to put the policy in place.’
Graham Grant – Page 16
‘This is all to do with profits’