Pricing victory

THE Scottish Government has welcomed a “landmark ruling” which backed plans to bring in minimum pricing for alcohol.

The Court of Session in Edinburgh rejected an appeal against ministers’ plans, which had been brought by the Scotch Whisky Association and others.

Holyrood voted in 2012 to bring in minimum pricing, which would initially be set at 50p per unit. But the SWA and other European wine and spirits producers took legal action, arguing the move would breach European law.