MacAskill "confident" over minimum pricing

Scottish Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill remains "confident" his party's plan to set a minimum price is "sustainable" and will get legal and parliamentary approval - despite fierce opposition.

Speaking to The Publican​ following this week's controversial announcement, MacAskill appeared upbeat and unbowed by criticism from opposition MPs, brewers and trade groups.

Asked whether he expected to face a legal challenge on minimum pricing, which he hopes will be in place by the end of this year, he said: "We've got lawyers ourselves and they say this is perfectly sustainable.

"Those with vested interests are now scrambling to protect their situation, and have huffed and puffed, but I can't predict what they will do.

"People who make a lot of money out of selling alcohol at cheap prices have an interest to protect - so they are entitled to their say, but we have an obligation as a government to tackle the problem we face.

"We are confident this will get both parliamentary and legal approval."

On Monday the Scottish government announced it was pushing ahead with radical plans to tackle alcohol issues, estimated to cost the country £2.25bn a year in extra services and lost productivity.

The plans include introducing a minimum price, banning loss-leading cut-price promotions, introducing a polluter pays Social Responsibility Fee and forcing pubs and bars to offer a 125ml wine measure and 25ml sprit measure.

MacAskill, a former lawyer, refused to be drawn on what the price of a unit would be, but did refer to the Sheffield University study which suggested 40p would be advisable.

"We have to have a balance where we are delivering on health, but are not too restrictive to trade," he said.

MacAskill refuted claims that a minimum price was a "blunt measure" that will affect responsible drinkers, arguing: "All legislation is in many ways a blunt measure. The price of a pint in a Scottish pub is not going to go up, a bottle of wine or a bottle of whisky marketed and sold appropriately and responsibly in the off-trade will not be affected.

"What will be affected is deep discounting, where alcohol is sold sometimes below cost and frankly in measures in bulk and at a price that is irresponsible and unacceptable."

Asked whether he expected the rest of the UK might to follow suit on minimum pricing, he said it was a "matter for them", but the Scottish government had to act to get alcohol back onto a "level kilter".

On forcing pubs to offer smaller measures he said it will "help people realise exactly what they are consuming".

MacAskill said he welcomed the role pubs played in their communities and the pub trade had "professionalised and improved" markedly in recent years.