UK Supreme Court backs Scottish minimum pricing of alcohol

The UK's highest court has ruled that plans to use minimum pricing for alcohol to improve public health in Scotland are legal.

Seven Supreme Court justices announced their findings on Wednesday morning following five years of legal wrangles.

The main challenge came from the Scotch Whisky Association, who argued that minimum unit pricing was ''disproportionate'' and illegal under European law.

But in a unanimous judgment, the Supreme Court ruled the legislation did not breach European Union law.

The chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, Karen Betts, has given her reaction to the decision.

In a statement, she said: “We accept the Supreme Court’s ruling on minimum unit pricing (MUP) of alcohol in Scotland.

"Looking ahead, the Scotch Whisky industry will continue to work in partnership with the government and the voluntary sector to promote responsible drinking and to tackle alcohol-related harm.

“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 that discriminate against Scotch Whisky as a consequence of minimum pricing, and to argue for fair competition on our behalf.

"This is vital in order that the jobs and investment the industry provides in Scotland are not damaged. At home, we hope to see an objective assessment of the impact of MUP."

This latest challenge came after the Court of Session in Edinburgh, Scotland's top civil court, rejected the SWA's appeal against the measure in October 2016.

But judges at the same court later gave the whisky body permission to take its fight all the way to the Supreme Court.

• Alcohol
• scottish government
• scotch whisky associaion
• Minimum Pricing