Minimum unit alcohol pricing contrary to EU law

Instead, the ECJ has recommended the introduction of alternative tax measures to achieve the same effect.

Holyrood passed legislation for a minimum price of 50p per unit in May 2012 but the move was challenged by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

The European court ruling said: “The Court of Justice considers that the effect of the Scottish legislation is significantly to restrict the market, and this might be avoided by the introduction of a tax measure designed to increase the price of alcohol instead of a measure imposing a minimum price per unit of alcohol.”

It added: “The Court states that it is ultimately for the national court to determine whether measures other than that provided for by the Scottish legislation, such as increased taxation on alcoholic drinks, are capable of protecting human life and health as effectively as the current legislation, while being less restrictive of trade in those products within the EU.”

The case will now be referred back to the Court of Session.

Ministers have said minimum pricing was essential to dealing with Scotland’s “unhealthy relationship with drink”.

Lord Doherty in the Court of Session rejected the SWA’s initial legal bid in 2013.

Speaking to Scottish Legal News, Stephen McGowan, partner and head of Licensing in Scotland for TLT LLP said: “Commenting on the press release alone, it seems to me that the debate is not over by a long shot.

“The ECJ has, it appears, said that it is a matter for the national court to determine whether, given MUP is a restriction on trade, there are less restrictive alternatives available, based on evidence which includes evidence after the date the act was passed.

“In this case, it is rather more complicated because the legislative competence of Holyrood does not include alcohol taxation. It will be interesting to see what the Court of Session make of all this, but their judgement can of course be appealed to the Supreme Court.

“The legal argument over minimum unit pricing is therefore not simply a ‎licensing law cypher, but a far grander constitutional debate and which is set to run for some time.”

Chair of BMA Scotland Dr Peter Bennie said: “Today’s ruling returns the case to the Scottish courts and puts Scotland a step closer to implementing minimum pricing.

“The Scottish Parliament first legislated for minimum pricing in 2012, but as 2016 approaches it has still not been implemented.

“Every year of delay carries with it a human cost in lives lost and health damaged. Last year saw an increase in both the volume of alcohol sales and the number of alcohol related deaths.

“The need to implement minimum pricing remains as pressing as ever and those who have sought to delay it in the courts have failed to act in the public interest.”