Tackling alcohol-related harm could be sidetracked by needless legal wrangling – Lib Dems

9.50.30am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 23rd Oct 2009

Commenting on the judgement from the European Court’s Advocate General that Austria, Ireland and France had breached European Directives by setting a minimum price for tobacco, Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Robert Brown said:

Robert Brown MSP“The Law Society for Scotland and others warned that minimum pricing could be illegal under European law.

“These concerns were brushed off by SNP Ministers, but today’s judgement about tobacco means that they will really require to look closely at this again.

“If they are still determined to press ahead with minimum pricing then they must make sure that it is at least legal. Otherwise, the whole vital issue of tackling alcohol related harm in Scotland will be sidetracked by needless legal wrangling.”