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| Reluctant Hero |
Minimum Pricing on AlcoholThe Scottish Whisky Association is claiming the government's plans to introduce minimum pricing on alcohol is in jeopardy after a European Court ruling on a similar case.I'll drink to that 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8321546.stm |
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| Fidget |
Marvellous! But there's still wee eck to contend with:
The Scottish government described the cases as "irrelevant". oooo.. get Eck. Something is going against him. 
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| landg |
it's a stupid idea anyway.
price increases are not going to stop jakies buying alcohol, never has and never will. |
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| Alasdair |
I can't say I'm surprised that an organisation with a vested interestin maintaining consumption should be claiming this.
At the same time, it's this sort of european influence/interference that makes me wonder whether or not we should be involved in a body that prevents local governing bodies taking action to tackle local problems. |
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| landg |
every area/distric/authority already has a council on alcohol. they are very well funded as well. |
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| Fidget |
And that is the long and short of it. Using the price of something as a means of controlling anything is futile. To have any impact the increase in booze prices would need to be astronomical so as to price it out of the market which isn't going to happen, and if it did, would just lead people down other roads. |
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| Red Justice |
The pubs are complaining the licensing laws this government have introcuced are very complicated. The Scottish government laws is also going to have an impact on cheap deals in supermarkets and off-licenses.
Talk about the nanny state? What about responsible drinkers? |
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| Fidget |
What about them indeed! The majority suffers because of the minority is the rule of thumb and the scottish government, as ever, is keen to be 'seen' to be doing something. | ||||
| Aventinian |
Well, I suppose not, but equally an excuse not to lower one's prices is hardly a bad thing for an organisation, particularly those like the Scottish Whisky Association who aren't on the bargain-end of the buying spectrum.
It regulates a common market and creates equal conditions throughout. I'm rather glad of having a central body to prevent local governments interfering with markets in this way. |
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| Alasdair |
And that's fine if you believe the market's always right. But different local conditions may require tweaking here and there. The proposed SNP legislation would have no effect on the common market anyway, nobodies trade would be anymore negatively effected than anyone else's, equality in trading conditions within scotland would remain unchanged. |
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