Westminster Watch: Tax and Diageo-gate
15-Nov-2010 By James Wilmore
So minimum pricing has finally been blown out the water in Scotland. The nail was hammered firmly into the coffin of minimum pricing last week, as...
Scots off-trade hit with promotions ban
11-Nov-2010 By James Wilmore
Scottish supermarkets and off-licences will be banned from offering "irresponsible" promotions on alcohol from next spring. A host of radical new...
Scots minimum pricing plan rejected in final vote
10-Nov-2010 By James Wilmore
The Scottish government's bid to introduce a minimum price of 45p a unit has been rejected for a third and final time today. MSPs voted 76-49...
10-Nov-2010 By Michelle Perrett
Plans by the Scottish National Party to introduce a minimum 45p price per unit on alcohol has failed. It was voted down by 76 to 49 for the third...
10-Nov-2010 By John Harrington
The plan to use local bylaws to set a minimum price for alcohol of 50p per unit is gaining momentum among councils. The proposal is spearheaded by...
08-Nov-2010 By Ewan Turney
The Scottish National Party has called on opposition parties to vote for minimum pricing when it reaches Parliament this week. The call comes after...
Scottish councils urged to pursue minimum price through bylaws
29-Oct-2010
Scottish licensing boards should follow the lead set by Manchester and strive to bring in local minimum pricing using bylaws, a trade chief has...
08-Oct-2010 By John Harrington
More than eight out of 10 north-east licensees support minimum pricing to curb cheap supermarket sales and lift their trading gloom. That's...
22-Sep-2010 By John Harrington
The Scottish National Party (SNP) has slammed the "unholy alliance" of Labour and Tories for scuppering minimum pricing in Scotland.
22-Sep-2010 By Ewan Turney
The Scottish Government's plans to introduce a minimum price on alcoholic drinks has been defeated at Holyrood today. The Scottish Conservatives...
SNP minimum price plan rejected
22-Sep-2010 By James Wilmore
The Scottish government has suffered a potentially fatal blow in its plan to bring in minimum pricing after opposition parties again rejected the...
15-Sep-2010 By John Harrington
Home Office minister James Brokenshire has given the clearest indication yet that councils could get powers to impose minimum pricing on alcohol...
Minister plays down minimum price plan
14-Sep-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
A minister in Northern Ireland has played down reports that he is keen to introduce minimum pricing to tackle cheap alcohol promotions. Last month...
New powers for councils could curb cheap booze sales
02-Sep-2010
Councils could introduce a bylaw stopping cheap alcohol being sold in their area - possibly through minimum pricing - under new government plans....
Alcohol Commission delivers minimum price blow
31-Aug-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
An influential report could scupper plans for minimum pricing in Scotland by dismissing it as a way of tackling irresponsible drinking. A report...
Botanic boss keen on minimum pricing
25-Aug-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
A leading pub operator in Northern Ireland has welcomed moves to introduce minimum pricing. Stephen Magorrian, managing director of the 16-strong...
Health groups make fresh plea for minimum pricing
20-Aug-2010 By James Wilmore
Three leading health groups have urged the Scottish government to press ahead with plans for a minimum price - despite an updated study showing it...
20-Aug-2010 By John Harrington
The BII's north eastern division has joined up with a regional health body to campaign for minimum pricing — 90% of local licensees back the move.
12-Aug-2010 By The PMA Team
Minimum pricing might seem like a good idea, but it will hand power outside the industry to dictate pricing policy for pubs, says The PMA Team.
Cameron 'supportive' of Manchester minimum price plans
12-Aug-2010 By James Wilmore
David Cameron has backed the idea of a controversial plan by Manchester councils to introduce minimum pricing, saying he will look at it...
29-Jun-2010 By Lesley Foottit
The Confederation of British Industry in Scotland (CBI Scotland) has "serious misgivings" over minimum pricing of alcohol.
Frustration as minimum price plan hits 'end of the road'
17-Jun-2010
Licensees have revealed their disappointment at plans for minimum pricing in Scotland appearing to hit a dead end. The Scottish government has been...
11-Jun-2010 By John Harrington
Labour and Tory MSPs have tried to block plans to introduce minimum pricing in Scotland but paved the way for other measures that could hit pubs.
10-Jun-2010 By John Harrington
Scotland's health secretary has urged MSPs to rise above party politics and support minimum pricing. It came as MSPs are set to debate Scotland's...
10-Jun-2010 By Martyn Leek, M&C Report
Morrison's, the country's fourth largest supermarket, has added its support to Tesco's call for minimum pricing. But it has told the government it...
Minimum pricing is only way to tackle supermarkets, says operator
27-May-2010 By James Wilmore
A high profile multiple pub operator has argued minimum pricing is the only way to tackle cheap supermarket deals - and called on licensees to spread...
27-May-2010 By John Harrington
The Health and Sport Committee also backs plans for a new disorder levy on premises, and mandatory Challenge 21, in a new report.
24-May-2010 By Ewan Turney
Suffolk brewer and pub operator Greene King has come out in favour of a minimum price on alcohol. The Coalition announced last week that it would...
World health chiefs back minimum pricing
24-May-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
Health chiefs at the World Health Organisation (WHO) have called for the introduction of minimum pricing to reduce alcohol harm. The move follows...
Minimum pricing gathers momentum in Scotland
24-Mar-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
Moves towards minimum pricing in Scotland are gaining momentum with more than 100 submissions of support being sent to the government. The Scottish...
Whisky producer clarifies job loss claims
17-Mar-2010
A leading whisky producer has backtracked over claims that minimum pricing would result in hundreds of job losses. John Beard chief executive of...
Whisky maker warns of 300 job cuts over minimum price plan
10-Mar-2010 By James Wilmore
A leading Scotch whisky maker and supplier has claimed it would cut around 300 jobs if the government went ahead with plans for minimum pricing....
Government accused of 'pussyfooting' around minimum pricing
10-Mar-2010 By James Wilmore
The government has been accused of "pussyfooting" around the issue of minimum pricing as it faced renewed pressure to bring in the measure. MPs...
Scots government dismisses minimum price ruling
05-Mar-2010 By James Wilmore
The Scottish government has played down claims that its plans for a minimum price on alcohol have been scuppered by a European ruling on tobacco....
05-Mar-2010 By John Harrington
A new ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) shows that minimum pricing is illegal, says the Scotch Whisky Association.
Major push for bylaw to allow minimum pricing
04-Mar-2010 By James Wilmore
Health lobbyists are campaigning for a landmark bylaw that will allow councils across the North West to bring in minimum pricing. In a document,...
'Minimum price plan for alcohol backed by children's charities'
01-Mar-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
Children's charities have backed the Scottish Government's plans for minimum pricing on alcohol. A consortium of Scottish children's organisations...
Survey raises doubts about impact of minimum pricing
17-Feb-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
More than half of the population would alter their drinking habits if prices went up by 20 per cent, according to new research into minimum pricing....
11-Feb-2010 By Ewan Turney
Diageo bosses have hit out against minimum pricing of alcohol as a "pretty blunt instrument" for dealing with excessive drinking. The Scottish...
Diageo boss rejects idea of minimum pricing for alcohol
11-Feb-2010 By Hamish Champ
Paul Walsh, chief executive of drinks giant Diageo, today labelled proposals to introduce a minimum price for a unit of alcohol as "clumsy". Speaking...
Pete Brown: Make no mistake, this is a war on drink. We need to fight back
28-Jan-2010
This is the month when many of us think, 'Sod it, it's going to be a miserable month anyway, I might as well lay off the sauce for a bit'. For those...
Tennent's boss backs Scottish minimum pricing
25-Jan-2010 By James Wilmore
The boss of one of Scotland's biggest drinks brands has backed the government's controversial plans for minimum pricing. Mike Lees, managing...
Trade bodies trash MPs' alcohol report
08-Jan-2010 By James Wilmore
Trade groups and drinks producers have hit out at the controversial MPs' report on alcohol, arguing a "blanket" policy such as minimum pricing would...
MPs' report urges action on minimum pricing
08-Jan-2010 By James Wilmore
An influential group of MPs have made a fresh call for minimum pricing and blasted supermarkets for heavily discounting alcohol. The health...
Minimum price for alcohol unlikely to cut consumption
22-Dec-2009
Despite calls to raise the minimum price of alcohol such a move would be unlikely to dissuade UK consumers from changing their drinking habits, new...
13-Nov-2009 By Ewan Turney
The answer to pre-loading is for pubs to stop serving customers who are drunk — that's the challenge laid down by Sainsbury's. The supermarket's...
Minimum pricing needed now, argues Lib Dem MP
12-Nov-2009 By James Wilmore
Blaming pubs for the problems of "Binge Britain" is often wrong and minimum pricing is now the best way to tackle "pocket money" off-trade prices,...
Can the Scots put a price on it?
11-Nov-2009 By James Wilmore
Will minimum pricing in Scotland become a reality? Or will it get thrown out by opposition parties? MSPs on both sides of the argument certainly show...
09-Nov-2009 By Ewan Turney
Minimum pricing is not a panacea but can be effective as part of a broader strategy on alcohol, according to Alcohol Focus Scotland. Dr Bruce Ritson...
06-Nov-2009 By Ewan Turney & John Harrington
Plans to introduce a minimum price on alcohol in Scotland suffered a further significant blow yesterday. During a debate, called for by the...
