Initial guidance suggest minimum pricing may be illegal

Back in 2012 the Scottish government passed legislation to introduce a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol. But the Scotch Whisky Association launched a legal challenge thus postponing its implementation. They hold the view that Minimum Unit Pricing is illegal when there are less trade-restrictive measures available. This week the advocate general of the European Court of Justice held the opinion that the minimum unit pricing may be illegal. The court is still to deliver its final judgement which could take another 6 months.