Minimum alcohol pricing: Five countries oppose Scottish drink plan.

Five European wine-producing nations are trying to block Scotland's plans for minimum alcohol pricing. France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Bulgaria have said the policy is illegal, unfair and ineffective and could have a devastating impact on the wine and spirits industry. They argue that it breaches European free trade law by discriminating against imported alcohol products. The Scottish government insisted minimum pricing was "perfectly legal". The European Commission (EC) is currently considering the Scottish government's request to be granted an exemption from trade regulations to enact the minimum price law which was approved by the Scottish Parliament last year. Of the 12 countries which have written to the Commission to express their views on the matter, only Ireland explicitly supported minimum pricing. Read more ..