The ruling makes Scotland the first country in the world to be able to set a minimum price for alcohol. Scottish MPs passed the minimum-price law in 2012, imposing a 50 pence per unit limit on alcohol, which mean a bottle of whiskey couldn’t be sold for less than £14 ($18.46).
The Scotch Whisky Association challenged the law, but the seven Supreme Court judges said the legislation didn’t breach European Union law.
Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, called the law “a bold and necessary move to improve public health.”
Sam Bowman, Executive Director of the pro-free market Adam Smith Institute, said:
“Minimum pricing is so unjust because it targets the bottom of the market only.”
Karen Betts, SWA chief executive, said it could damage the industry and exports.
“We will now look to the Scottish and UK governments to support the industry against the negative effects of trade barriers being raised in overseas markets that discriminate against Scotch Whisky as a consequence of minimum pricing, and to argue for fair competition on our behalf.
“This is vital in order that the jobs and investment the industry provides in Scotland are not damaged. At home, we hope to see an objective assessment of the impact of MUP [minimum unit pricing].”