Legal challenge to minimum pricing looks certain

The European Commission has questioned the Scottish Government over its plan to bring in minimum pricing. Yesterday the commission declared it “has a problem” with the proposals. This could mean that the Scottish Government will face a legal challenge.
The plans which were first proposed more than two years ago, has faced far more hurdles than the smoking ban in pubs, after some drinks companies, particularly on the whisky side, opposed the proposal with the Scotch Whisky Association and the Wine and Spirit Association being particularly active on the political front.
As well as the EC, other EU wine-producing nations – France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Bulgaria – have also submitted their own opinions to the EC which are also understood to contain their own objections to the measures.
A spokesman from the European Commission said, “We have a problem with the compatibility of the minimum pricing plans under Community law” and continued “the specific measure provided by the draft legislation causes problems with the compatibility with the EU Treaty.”