Cheers for souvenirs

After five-year legal battle Sturgeon can finally start minimum alcohol pricing..

SCOTLAND will be the first country in the world to set minimum alcohol prices after a landmark court ruling yesterday ended a 10-year battle.

Experts said the SNP Government’s victory over industry body the Scotch Whisky Association means an estimated 120 lives could be saved each year.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who introduced the plan as health secretary, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that minimum unit pricing has been upheld by the Supreme Court.

“This has been a long road – and no doubt the policy will continue to have its critics – but it is a bold and necessary move to improve public health.”

Health Secretary Shona Robison called it a “historic and far-reaching” moment in the fight to tackle Scotland’s unhealthy relationship with alcohol.

MUP sets a floor price per unit of alcohol to stop producers and retailers offering cut-price booze, especially super-strength lagers and high-alcohol cider.

Critics say a suggested 50p unit price will target the poorest. It would stop bottles of 12.5 per cent wine being sold below £4.69 and 70cl bottles of whisky below £14.

Doctors and some industry leaders have backed the plan since it was first suggested 10 years ago.

It took five years to push it through Holyrood – but the successful 2012 Act was then tied up in courts for another five years because of the SWA challenge.

The group complained the law contravened European rules and took the case to court in Scotland, Europe and finally the UK Supreme Court.

The SWA conceded defeat yesterday but chief executive Karen Betts said: “We will now look to the Scottish and UK Governments to support the industry against the negative effects of trade barriers being raised in overseas markets.”

Minimum pricing was given academic support from the start – a previously published study by the University of Sheffield suggested Sturgeon’s preferred 50p limit would lead to 2000 fewer hospital admissions and save 120 lives a year.

Official figures show there were 1265 alcohol-related deaths in Scotland last year, a 10 per cent increase on the previous year and the highest since 2010.

Alcohol misuse is estimated to cost Scotland £3.6billion a year – the equivalent of £900 for every adult.

Alison Douglas, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: “Today’s decision is a massive victory for Scotland’s health and for our democracy.

“Minimum unit pricing will save the lives of hundreds of Scots and improve the lives of thousands more.”

Scottish drinks giants Tennent’s welcomed the decision.

Paul Bartlett, of parent company C&C, said: “It is the right move to make – a progressive step forward in tackling the problems of alcohol misuse in Scotland – and we congratulate the Scottish Government on their perseverance.”

But free market think-tank the Institute of Economic Affairs branded the decision “disappointing”, claiming minimum pricing is a policy which “clobbers the poor and exempts the rich”.

The group said: “The Supreme Court’s decision today is disappointing but we should be thankful that the legal action has delayed the implementation of this pernicious policy by five years, thereby saving Scottish drinkers hundreds of millions of pounds.”

MUP will save lives of hundreds of Scots & improve the lives of thousands ALISON DOUGLAS