Minimum alcohol pricing plans given green light after court battle

The UK's highest court has rejected a challenge against plans to use minimum pricing for alcohol to improve public health in Scotland.

A minimum price will be put on alcohol

Seven Supreme Court justices in London dismissed an appeal on Wednesday by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

During a hearing in July, the judges heard argument from the organisation that minimum unit pricing (MUP) is ‘’disproportionate’’ and illegal under European law.

The SWA said that there were better ways to achieve the Scottish Government’s aim.

But the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that there was no breach of European Union law and that minimum pricing “is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim”.