The European Commission has been reported as having told the Scottish Government “that there was no reason the[Scottish Government’s minimum alcohol pricing] policy would be at odds with EU law if key conditions were met”. To read the full article click here, visit the link below.
Jim McLean, consultant at b+m comments:
“This is not quite ‘home free’ but a step on the way. The ‘key conditions’ are likely to be about evidence that the specific minimum pricing proposals can deliver (and possibly that, on later review, they can be shown to have delivered) a reduction of harmful patterns of consumption better than to be expected from an alcohol duty increase and/or a ban on below-cost sales.”
If you would like to discuss the Free Movement of Goods Law further or have any questions, please contact Jim McLean.