Scotland can set a minimum price for alcohol

A cheap tipple is about to get a bit more expensive in Scotland. The Supreme Court in the United Kingdom has ruled that Scotland can set a minimum price for alcohol, saying the measure was a "proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim". Legislation to introduce minimum unit pricing was approved by the Scottish Parliament five years ago but has been tied up in court challenges by the Scotch Whisky Association and others from the alcohol industries. Politicans said a 50p-per-unit minimum would help tackle Scotland's "unhealthy relationship with drink". Alison Douglas, the chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, tells us the move is primarily targetted at cheap, high-strength alcohol.