Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon was battling to save her flagship policy last night after revealing the government wants alcohol sold at a minimum price of 45p per unit.
The proposal came under fresh fire from the drinks industry and opposition politicians – despite her claims that it would save lives and money.
The plan would push up the cost of buying super-strength lager and cider, as well as supermarkets’ own-brand spirits.
It would have no impact, however, on the price of drinks associated with antisocial behaviour and violence among young people, including Buckfast tonic wine and alcopops.
The Conservatives have already warned SNP ministers they face defeat at Holyrood for a second time because opposition MSPs agree that the best way to tackle Scotland’s unhealthy relationship with the bottle is through the duty system at UK level.
The Scotch Whisky Association maintained last night that the plans were illegal and would damage the industry at home and abroad, potentially costing jobs.
Under the government’s proposals – which are backed by the medical profession, the police and some sections of the alcohol industry – the price of a three-litre bottle of Tesco’s own-brand cider would increase from £2.90 to £7.43.
A bottle of Asda Smart Price vodka would cost £11.81 instead of £7.97 and four cans of Tennent’s Super lager would cost £8.10 instead of £6.
Ms Sturgeon said SNP ministers were confident the pricing plan could reduce consumption and deliver health and social benefits, while complying with EU law.
She claimed the measure would lead to 50 fewer deaths, 1,200 fewer hospital admissions, a £5.5million reduction in health-care costs and 22,900 fewer days’ absence from work in the first year.
It would save the country £51million in police, health and justice system costs in the same period.
Over 10 years, Ms Sturgeon said, the policy would result in 225 fewer deaths a year, 4,200 fewer hospital admissions and an £83million reduction in health-care costs.
She added that overall savings to public services over the decade would amount to £721million.
Ms Sturgeon said cheap alcohol meant greater consumption and an increase in drink-related deaths, disease, crime and disorder.
“I believe it’s crucial that we reintroduce realistic alcohol pricing,” she said.
The Alcohol Commission set up by the Labour Party has recommended a ban on selling beer, wine and spirits at below the “floor price” of the cost of production, plus the cost of duty and VAT.
Ms Sturgeon, who is in favour of testing minimum pricing to see if it works, said using the tax system as it stood would not result in any alcoholic products rising in price.
She added that duty on cider would have to be increased by more than 200% to have the same impact as minimum pricing.
Ms Sturgeon said it was the Scottish Parliament’s responsibility to take action and not “pass the buck” to Westminster.
Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Harry Burns said it was essential that the policy was introduced as quickly as possible to save lives.
“We are, sadly, world-class when it comes to damaging our health through heavy drinking,” he said.
“But that can change. Scotland led the way in the UK when it came to banning smoking in public places and I believe we must also lead the way in introducing a minimum price for alcohol.
“The longer we delay means that people will be dying who would otherwise rein back their drinking and give themselves the opportunity to recover.
“Increasing the price in this way is the quickest and most effective way to change the harm that is being done to our health.”
British Medical Association Scotland chairman Dr Brian Keighley said: “The eyes of the world are on the Scottish Parliament so I urge MSPs not to let us down and to support minimum pricing because it is the right thing to do.”
Dr Evelyn Gillan, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: “It is time for politicians to stop bickering and legislate in the public health interest.”
Scottish Labour’s Jackie Baillie claimed the SNP had got the policy badly wrong because it would put “over £140million into the pockets of the big supermarkets” without creating a single extra penny for more police or the NHS.
“A minimum price of 45p per unit will make no difference to the cost of problem drinks like Buckfast, but it will punish pensioners and people on low incomes,” she added.
“It is effectively a tax on the poor, paid directly to the shareholders of the big supermarkets.”
Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Mary Scanlon said the policy would merely boost cross-border and internet sales.
“The supermarkets will be jumping up and down with glee at the tens of millions of pounds of extra profits they would stand to make as ordinary people are forced to pay more for a bottle of wine or Scotch,” she said.
“Unfortunately for them, it’s not going to happen.”
Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Robert Brown said: “The SNP have taken a very narrow view of the whole process, totally ignoring much more effective solutions which would cover the entire UK, something which the coalition government is already considering.”