Minimum pricing for alcohol in Scotland may face Supreme Court challenge

Plans to bring in minimum pricing for alcohol in Scotland could face a further legal challenge - at the UK's highest court.

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has applied to take its appeal against the Scottish Government's minimum unit pricing (MUP) plans to the UK Supreme Court.

It comes after Scotland's top civil court, the Court of Session in Edinburgh, backed the measure last month.

The SWA said it has applied to judges in Scotland for leave to appeal to the London-based court.

The move is the latest step in a prolonged legal wrangle over the Scottish Government's proposals, which are aimed at improving public health in Scotland.

MSPs passed legislation at Holyrood in 2012 to bring in minimum pricing, which would initially be set at 50p per unit, but the long-running legal challenge has stalled implementation of the policy.