Alcohol doubts

You reported that Nicola Sturgeon was claiming that the European Commission had agreed that her proposals on minimum pricing for alcohol were in line with EU law (8 February).

Later in the day I was surprised to read news that the EC trade commissioner had issued a statement denying that they had said anything of the sort!

There is a real issue here as the Danish government had to drop similar proposals for a minimum price for tobacco because they contravened EU competition laws.

Can we be told what is going on here and who is telling the truth?

Donald McBride

Craigleith Hill Crescent

Edinburgh