Comments on Sections Section 2 – Duration of minimum pricing provisions
14.This section allows for minimum pricing to run for 6 years from the date it is commenced and allows for the Scottish Ministers to make an order after the end of 5 years to allow minimum pricing to continue to have effect. The Scottish Ministers cannot make an order extending the effect of the minimum pricing provisions until 5 years from when they are fully in force. If no such order is made by the end of year 6 minimum pricing will cease to have effect.
15.The minimum pricing provisions are the provisions in section 1 of the Act that provide that alcohol must not be sold on licensed premises at a price below its minimum price. This definition also applies to section 3.
16.Subsection (4) sets out that the order that the Scottish Ministers can make after the end of 5 years to allow minimum pricing to continue to have effect is subject to the affirmative procedure.