‘Huge victory’ in fight against cheap alcohol

Scotland leadsworldwith minimumprice

A historic ruling by the UK’s highest court means that Scotland will become the first country in the world to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol units. Doctors and health campaigners celebrated a “massive victory” after the Supreme Court backed the Scottish Government’s controversial policy.

A historic ruling by the UK’s highest court means that Scotland will become the first country in the world to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol units.

Doctors and health campaigners celebrated a “massive victory” after the Supreme Court backed the Scottish Government’s controversial policy, which was passed more than five years ago by MSPs.

The verdict paves the way for a minimum price of 50p per unit to be set on alcohol, mostly affecting cheap white ciders and value spirits with high alcohol content.

A 70cl bottle of whisky could not be sold for less than £14 under the rules, while the cost of a 70cl bottle of 37.5% vodka would be no less than £13.13, and four cans of 9% lager would increase to a minimum of £7.92.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon hailed the outcome yesterday, saying: “Absolutely delighted that minimum 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.”

The seven Supreme Court justices dismissed a legal challenge that had been brought against minimum unit pricing by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), which had already taken the case to the highest court in Scotland and the European Court of Justice.

The SWA argued that the policy was “disproportionate” and illegal under European law, but Supreme Court unanimously ruled there was no breach of EU law and that minimum pricing “is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim”.

Official figures show that there were 1,265 alcohol related deaths in Scotland in 2016 - a rise of 10% on the previous year – with alcohol misuse resulting in about 670 hospital admissions and 24 deaths a week.

Research by Sheffield University has suggested a 50p minimum unit price could result in 121 fewer deaths a year after 20 years, while hospital admissions could fall by more than 2,000 a year by then.

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.

“Despite parliament passing this legislation unopposed five years ago, the Scotch Whisky Association has consistently obstructed it, putting their members’ profits over the health of the people of Scotland.

“Scotland has been leading the way on minimum unit pricing but other countries, such as Ireland and Wales, are now also actively pursuing legislation.”

Speaking for the Church of Scotland, Rev Dr Richard Frazer, convener of the Kirk’s Church and Society Council, said: “We see all too often the devastating impact that excessive use of alcohol can have on the lives of individuals and their loved ones.

“The introduction of minimum unit pricing will help to tackle this, saving lives and improving life for countless others. ”

Chris Snowdon, the head of lifestyle economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said that while politicians and doctors would not be affected by minimum pricing, it would “clobber” poorer drinkers.

He 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.

“Minimum alcohol pricing is a policy that clobbers the poor and exempts the rich. Most of the beer, cider and spirits sold in the off-trade will become more expensive under a 50p minimum price, but doctors and politicians can relax. The champagne at their Christmas parties will not be affected.”

But Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “This is a historic and far-reaching judgment and a landmark moment in our ambition to turn around Scotland’s troubled relationship with alcohol.

“In a ruling of global significance, the UK Supreme Court has unanimously backed our pioneering and life-saving alcohol pricing policy.”

Scotland is poised to become the first country in the world to implement a minimum price for alcohol, other than through taxation, after the longest bar-room brawl in history. A series of legal challenges stretching back five years culminated in a final showdown at the UK Supreme Court, where law lords backed the Scottish Government against the Scotch Whisky Association. It was ironic that as the UK’s highest court was handing down its ruling, the UK Government was still lukewarm about following suit. Minimum pricing will be imposed on Scottish retailers selling alcohol in the new year, with the cheapest, strongest drinks such as certain brands of cider, lager and wine facing the biggest increases. These are the drinks of choice of those most at risk. Nobody knows if they will simply switch to another form of drug or make their families skimp on other things to pay for their bigger drinks bill. Many better off alcohol abusers will hardly notice the increases and remain at risk, of course. Experts claim that 120 lives will be saved each year as a result. It is hard to argue against such a figure, but it is also ironic that the move will boost alcohol profits. This is by no means a magic bullet, but a process of education. Many, including the UK Government, which remains unconvinced, will be interested to see if figures for saving lives are borne out.

“Manybetter offalcohol abuserswill hardlynotice theincreases andremain atrisk, of course”