Court to rule on alcohol pricing

The UK’s highest court is to rule on a challenge over plans to use minimum pricing for alcohol to improve public health in Scotland.

Seven Supreme Court justices will announce their findings today after hearing argument from the Scotch Whisky Association that minimum unit pricing is “disproportionate” and illegal under European law.

The legal wrangle over the proposals began in 2012 and has delayed implementation of a policy aimed at tackling Scotland’s drink problem.

Scottish ministers have prepared a draft order specifying a minimum price per unit of 50p, but neither the 2012 Act nor the order have been brought into force pending the outcome of the legal proceedings.