Responding to the SWA’s decision to appeal, Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, said:
“We are extremely disappointed by the Scotch Whisky Association’s decision to appeal against the Court of Session’s decision that minimum unit pricing in Scotland is legal.
“The case for MUP has been made very clearly, and by contesting this decision, it is clear that global alcohol producers are putting their profits ahead of Scotland’s health, ahead of protecting our children and ahead of the pressure on our NHS and vital public services. The appeal also goes against the will of the Scottish Parliament.
“Recent AHA research has found that alcohol is being sold in Scotland for as little as 18p per unit. At these pocket money prices, you can buy the upper weekly limit recommended by the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland for just £2.52.
“Research released today from Cancer Research UK found that over 20 years the introduction of a 50p minimum unit price per unit of alcohol could save 7200 lives and reduce health care costs by £1.3 billion. The Scotch Whisky Association is choosing to ignore the clear evidence of the benefits of MUP, and is acting in the same way that the tobacco industry did in trying to block effective measures.”