SNP prepares for minimum pricing
A minimum pricing law could be introduced in Scotland as early as April next year, following the landslide victory of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in the recent elections.
The party won 65 seats in the devolved 129-seat Holyrood assembly — giving the party an overall majority to push through the legislation. In September 2010 the SNP slammed the "unholy alliance" of Labour and Tories for scuppering its plans to bring in minimum pricing at 45p per unit.
A spokesman for the SNP confirmed the minimum pricing bill will be included in the Nationalists' legislative programme, which will be unveiled in September, when Scottish MPs return after the summer recess.
The bill is likely to be pushed through quickly after that as primary legislation. The minimum price is expected to start at 45p, but this will be passed as secondary legislation, which will allow the price to be altered when necessary.
The SNP refuted claims it would be illegal to introduce the bill as it would breach competition law and a spokesman said: "We are satisfied that minimum pricing is compliant with the law because there is a public health exemption. The legal advice we have been given is that this is sound."
The British Beer & Pub Association opposed the move. Chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: "Blanket price interventions are a blunt tool and do not target alcohol misuse. Minimum pricing would not work in Scotland alone, as most Scots could easily travel to England, or just buy online, if they wanted to stock up on cheaper alcohol."
However, the Scottish Licensed Trade Association chief executive Paul Waterson supported the move and hoped the SNP would implement this quickly. He said: "We have a problem with alcohol. We believe supermarkets are really to blame. If we sort out their irresponsible pricing it would help alleviate the problems."
The Scotch Whisky Association has called for a meeting with the SNP, after claiming that plans to introduce a minimum price would hit moves to boost exports of their product.
