Minimum alcohol price plan could breach EU law, court rules

THE European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that the Scottish Government’s plan for a minimum alcohol price would breach EU law if less restrictive tax measures could be introduced.

Picture: Neil Hanna

Judges at the Luxembourg court concluded that the policy would restrict the market, which could be avoided by the introduction of an alternative tax measure designed to increase the price of alcohol.

They said it was ultimately for the national court of an EU state to determine whether other measures would be as effective in achieving the desired public health benefit.

Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) officials mounted a legal challenge alongside other European wine and spirits producers after legislation to introduce minimum pricing was passed by the Scottish Parliament in 2012.

The case will now be referred back to the Court of Session in Edinburgh for a final decision.

The SWA’s legal challenge to the proposal of a minimum unit price of 50p was initially rejected by judge Lord Doherty at the Court of Session in 2013.

Following an appeal hearing, the case was referred to the ECJ last year for its opinion on six points of European law, with an interim opinion published in September.

In their ruling, judges concluded that a minimum price would constitute an obstacle to the free movement of goods, but that such a measure may be justified on health protection grounds “only if it is proportionate to the objective pursued”.

The court said a fiscal measure increasing the taxation of alcoholic drinks “is liable to be less restrictive” than minimum pricing.

The Scottish Government does not have the power to raise taxes on alcohol, with this ability reserved to Westminster.

Welcoming the ruling, SWA chief executive David Frost said: “The court has confirmed that minimum unit pricing (MUP) is a restriction on trade, and that it is illegal to choose MUP where there are less restrictive ways of achieving the same end.

“The Scottish courts will now reflect on the implications of the ruling and all the evidence, before issuing a final judgment.

“This ruling opens the way to moving the debate on and allowing us to address alcohol misuse with practical measures that actually work. Alcohol-related deaths have fallen by a third over the last decade in Scotland, which suggests we are already on the right path.

“We remain committed to working closely with the Scottish Government and everyone else with an interest.”

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “ECJ opinion on minimum pricing welcome. We believe it is most effective way of tackling alcohol misuse. National court will now decide.”