Drinks makers’ legal warning
DRINKS producers have stepped up warnings that a minimum price on alcohol in Scotland will be shot down in the courts if passed by MSPs.
They highlighted a legal opinion sought by the Swiss government when it considered setting a minimum price, which concluded in 2009 that the measure would fall foul of European Union rules on fair trade.
The Swiss opinion argued that a minimum price would not be “proportionate” to the issue at hand, and would “restrict the economic freedom” guaranteed under EU law to businesses.
Three years ago, the Chilean embassy wrote to the Scottish Government to warn the measure could discriminate against its wine producers.
Opposition MSPs yesterday urged Ms Sturgeon to notify the minimum price to the European Commission, which could lead to it laying out its view on the legality of the measure. She acknowledged that a legal challenge could occur, but said she hoped any producer inclined to challenge the case would “respect the will of the parliament”.
She said the updated evidence from the University of Sheffield experts would be one factor in developing the legal case, along with others.
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Comments
There are 13 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Buford Van Stomm
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 03:41 PMKnickerless Turgid....please don't make us look stupid plea to drinks companies.
Buford Van Stomm
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 03:31 PMbut said she hoped any producer inclined to challenge the case would “respect the will of the parliament”. ==================================================== hilarious.....now she is appealing to the social conscience of capitalist corporations.
Alternative (High Octane) Fuel Head
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 01:43 PM"...but said she hoped any producer inclined to challenge the case would “respect the will of the parliament”." ..... In other words, just let them get away with breaking the law. I find it absolutely astounding that we have people in power in this country who are prepared to break international laws in order to flex their muscles here. Adn all this is is a muscle flexing exercise. I've heard it mentioned more than once that the SNP want to be able to match Labour's "smoking ban moment". Dispicable. Absolutely dispicable.
Charles11
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 01:08 PMBecause of the high price of tobacco products we have seen a big increase in smuggling and counterfeiting. The same will happen with alcohol.
Bruceboy
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 09:57 AMLinskaill spouts sh1t again.The wino's and underage drinkers friend should be made to go to his local park and clear up the broken glass strewn everywhere. Of course he could be a peado' who goes downtown on a friday and watches the drunk lassie's lifting their tops or maybe he prefers the lads who drop their trolley's, One a_hole saluting another a_hole
Chiefy1724
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 09:28 AMOK, easy. We do what the Finns, Norwegians and Canadians do. State Run Alcohol Shops for Wine and Spirits, and Beers and Ciders above, say, 4%. Supermarkets allowed only to sell weak beers and ciders, no special offers. Can't be illegal, the Finns do it, they are part of Europe. This policy is the expressed will of the Scottish People through our elected representatives - nobody can say that they were unaware of the SNP Policy on Minimum Pricing because there was enough hoo-ha about it during the last parliament and the election campaign. The Supermarkets and "The Drinks Industry" had better leaern to live with this or they will be living with the Finland Scenario.
Auld Twa
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 09:05 AMWhy did the non member Swiss seek an opinion on EU law ? If minimum price legislation gets bogged down in the courts then maybe we will have a change in the law and a state monopoly instead. If you have not had any experience of countries like Norway and Canada, where only state owned shops sell spirits, you would be surprised at the absence of drunks and anti-social behaviour on the streets. I have no idea how their alcohol related illness statistics compare with other countries but suspect that they are better than ours.
Family guy
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 08:00 AM5 - Correct.-------Change "Drinks makers’ legal warning" to "Drug makers’ legal warning" and the point is made.
antiparasite
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 02:12 AMDrug barons make threats??
Charles Linskaill
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 01:57 AMThe Scottish Government's proposal for the minimum pricing of alcohol is truly abominable , It's atrociously unfair, ill conceived, and one of utter sheer stupidity!, The fact of the matter, is those who wish to abuse alcohol, will always do-so no matter it's price, while those who do not abuse alcohol are penalised for the ones who do, What Sense is in that, Less than NONE!
Kinghob
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 01:30 AMTell the medics, the NHS groups, the alcohol support groups who favour minimum pricing (and the other measures as it is part of a package) that it is utter sheer stupidity that drives them rather than being more genuine than an a hole such as yourself!
Kinghob
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 01:25 AMTell that to westminster as well then since they are going for minima, pricing and it is supported by all the organisations and the NHS! Sensible drinkers won't drink cheap kak and your looney tune opinion is as vacuous as ever. By the way kids won't be able to get their alcohol if the usual cheap rubbish goes up your always focus idiotically on legal drinking rather than illegal which is a problem as well. You are not the brightest at the best of times.
Charles Linskaill
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 01:08 AMThe Scottish Government's proposal for the minimum pricing of alcohol is truly abdominal, It's atrociously unfair, ill conceived, and one of utter sheer stupidity!, The fact of the matter, is those who wish to abuse alcohol, will always do-so no matter it's price, while those who do not abuse alcohol are penalised for the ones who do, What Sense is in that, Less than NONE!
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