SWA: minimum pricing is illegal
A minimum price agreement on alcoholic drinks is likely to breach both EU and International Trade law, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has warned.
The SWA believes that a minimum price, proposed by the Scottish Government this morning (Scots confirm minimum price plans), is a trade barrier to imports in Scotland and would in turn have damaging consequences for Scotch Whisky overseas.
"We agree that attitudes to alcohol in Scotland need to change, but minimum pricing is not the answer," said SWA chief executive Gavin Hewitt.
"It is hard to believe any Scottish Government would bring forward proposals that are likely to be both illegal in international trade law and risk damaging the whisky industry. "Regrettably, minimum pricing achieves both and undermines our success in breaking down illegal discrimination against Scotch Whisky around the world.
"Any proposal on minimum pricing needs to be properly debated. By proposing to introduce this measure through secondary legislation, the Scottish Government is preventing the full debate on the consequences of minimum pricing which such a damaging proposal deserves."
