Europe hears Scotland's minimum unit pricing case

The Scottish Government will make its case for minimum unit pricing for alcohol to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg today.

The Scottish Parliament had passed the law in 2012 but was met with a legal challenge by the Scotch Whisky Association, who said the idea breached European law.

After the legal bid was rejected by the Court of Session in Edinburgh, judges in Luxembourg will now hear oral evidence from the Scottish Government, which is expected to be supported by representations from Ireland, Norway, the UK and Sweden. The hearing will allow the court to make a preliminary ruling, expected later this year.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said she was confident Scotland has a strong case. 

"In Scotland we drink far more than we did a generation ago and alcohol consumption is almost a fifth higher than the rest of the UK. Heavy drinking places a heavy burden on society, not just by damaging health and causing premature death, but also by contributing to crime and disorder.

"Introducing a minimum unit price for alcohol is the best, most targeted way to tackle the affordability of cheap, strong alcohol consumed by heavy drinkers without penalising moderate drinkers," she said. 

Holyrood looked at the subject in more detail last year.