Minimum pricing developments both sides of the border?

England & Wales: Queen's speech: No measures for alcohol and cigarette restrictions

No new laws have been set out by the Queen at the State Opening of Parliament in relation to alcohol and cigarette restrictions with immigration stealing centre stage. This has led to speculation that minimum pricing in relation to alcohol will not be pursued by the government.

However, Jeremy Hunt speaking on Radio 4's Today Programme has insisted no final decisions have been made "Just because something is not in the Queen's speech does not mean the government can't bring it forward as law, but we have not made a decision,"

He also went on to say that the ongoing legal challenge to an alcohol pricing law in Scotland, as reported below, meant that it "wasn't possible for us to consider what course of action to do" in time for Wednesday's speech.

Scotland: Minimum Unit Pricing - SWA to appeal decision

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has announced that it will be appealing the recent decision by a Court of Session which deemed the proposed 50p per unit minimum alcohol pricing (MUP) legislation in Scotland legal.

On 3 May 2013 Lord Doherty refused the petition, holding that the Act was not outside the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament; and that the proposed Order setting a minimum price was within devolved competence and within the powers of the Scottish Ministers. Click here to link to the full Opinion.

Gavin Hewitt, chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, said:

"We are disappointed our petition for judicial review has been refused. We are surprised at the ruling in light of 30 years of European case law on MUP. We will be appealing against this decision and we remain confident of our position.

"The view from Europe is very different to that expressed by the court and we are not alone in having concerns about the legality of MUP. We are joined in our legal action by spiritsEUROPE and Comite Vins. The European Commission and more than 10 member states have expressed their concerns that MUP contravenes European Union trading rules and their opposition to the Scottish proposals.

"We have consistently opposed MUP so our decision to appeal should not come as a surprise. The Scottish Government has agreed to not introduce MUP until the legal process, including appeals, is complete."