Scotland will soon have a minimum pricing for alcohol after the UK's highest court rejected a challenge to the plans.

Seven Supreme Court justices in London dismissed an appeal today 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 to reduce drinking to improve public health.

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".

The Supreme Court challenge came after the Court of Session in Edinburgh, Scotland's top civil court, rejected the SWA's appeal against the measure in October 2016.

The legal wrangle over the proposals began in 2012 and has delayed implementation of a policy aimed at tackling Scotland's drink problem.

The Supreme Court had to decide whether the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012 was incompatible with European Union law.

Scottish ministers have prepared a draft order specifying a minimum price per unit of 50p, but neither the 2012 Act nor the order have been brought into force pending the outcome of the legal proceedings.

The appeal was opposed by the Lord Advocate and the Advocate General for Scotland.