The governments of Scotland and Ireland still hope to be able to introduce a minimum price for alcoholic drinks, despite a warning from the European Court of Justice.
The court warned that such a measure would be illegal and that perhaps a better move instead would be to increase the tax on alcohol, writes the British newspaper Financia Times.
"The European Court of Justice considers that the effects of the Scottish law will significantly restrict the market. The practice, adopted in Scotland, is not justified, because it is possible to protect health with equally effective, but less restrictive tax measures," states the judgment of the European Court of Justice.
Raising taxes would reduce the use of alcoholic beverages, while at the same time maintaining fair market competition, the court suggested.
As reported by Nezavisne novine, the Scottish Government introduced a system to combat Scotland's unhealthy attitude to alcohol in 2012, and the Scottish Parliament then adopted a law introducing a minimum price of 50 pence per unit of alcohol.
Under the plan, the cheapest bottle of wine would cost £4,69, while a bottle of whiskey would be no cheaper than £14.
The law's entry into force was delayed, however, when the Scottish Whiskey Association (SWA) took legal action, claiming the law breached EU trade rules. The law was also opposed by other EU members, including wine-producing countries such as France and Spain.
It is now up to the Supreme Court of Scotland to decide whether the minimum price is justified, and its ruling can be appealed to the UK Supreme Court.
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