Minimum pricing will face proper scrutiny

Plans to introduce a minimum price on alcohol and raise the off-trade purchase age to 21 in Scotland will be delayed for at least a year and face proper scrutiny.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) had hoped to introduce the controversial set of proposals through secondary legislation under the new Licensing Act due to come into being later this year.

But they will now form part of a separate Health Bill following pressure from MSPs to allow proper scrutiny of the measures.

"We said right from the start that it was unacceptable to try and bulldozer these controversial proposals through the back-door," said Labour's business manager Michael McMahon.

"The SNP have finally seen sense and I look forward to the full legislation being published so it can be adequately scrutinised."

Conservative shadow cabinet secretary for justice Bill Aitken said the SNP were "running scared" of a proper debate on alcohol.

"We welcome the u-turn on the SNP's original intention of railroading proposals through by regulation and subordinate legislation in a bid to avoid full democratic scrutiny. However, today's move illustrates the unholy mess in which the Scottish Government now finds itself.

"By moving these proposals into the health brief from the justice portfolio, the SNP is hoping to foster a more muted and less challenging environment for itself, as we all agree that Scotland has a massive drink problem.

"This is a classic diversionary tactic hoping to persuade the public under health legislation when in fact the Scottish Government has failed miserably to justify its proposals, which includes blanket minimum pricing on alcohol, targeting entirely the wrong drinks."