SWA returns to court to fight MUP policy

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) will be returning to court today to challenge the Scottish Government’s minimum price for alcohol plans.

The SWA will be returning to court today to fight the Scottish Government’s MUP plans

The industry body has been a vocal opponent to the proposed policy, which would see a minimum unit price of 50p implemented in Scotland.

Legal action was taken by the SWA after members of Scottish Parliament passed the policy in May 2012, claiming it would breach the European Union’s trading laws.

SWA members also claimed that the policy would be “ineffective” in tackling alcohol misuse in the country and that it would instead penalise responsible drinkers as well as the drinks industry.

It was for this reason that the UK Government shelved minimum unit pricing plans in July last year.

However, Judge Lord Doherty threw out the case made against the policy in Scotland in May last year, stating that the policy was not incompatible with EU rules.

Following the dismissal, the SWA lodged an appeal, for which proceedings will begin today at Scotland’s Court of Session.

MUP not “proven to work”

“We are serious about tackling alcohol misuse in Scotland but it has to be done in ways which are proven to work,” said David Frost, CEO of the SWA.

“We are taking legal action against minimum unit pricing (MUP) because we believe it is not only illegal under EU law, but actually ineffective in tackling misuse, as well as damaging to the Scotch whisky industry which supports 35,000 jobs across Scotland.

“We are far from alone in this view. Last year the UK Government abandoned their plans because of lack of evidence MUP would help, and several EU member states and the Commission have voiced their concerns.

Frost added that the SWA want the case to go “rapidly” to the European Court, but that the Scottish Government had “refused”.

However, Scottish health secretary Alex Neil said that MUP is needed to curb irresponsible drinking which is bolstered by the availability of alcohol which costs as little as 20p a unit.

He added: “Being able to buy 20 units of alcohol for the change in your pocket is just unacceptable. It shows that this kind of high-strength alcohol has become far too cheap in Scotland.

”Time and time again the research proves that affordability is the key factor in the misuse of alcohol and that the most effective way to tackle this is by setting a minimum unit price.

“This is about targeting the cheap drink that causes so much harm within communities, often in the most deprived areas of Scotland.”