Scotland expected to raise minimum alcohol price by 30%

Health campaigners will welcome new unit rate of 65p, which will push bottle of whisky to at least 18.20

The minimum price of alcoholic drinks in Scotland is poised to rise by 30% under measures to control alcohol-related deaths and hospitalisations.

Ministers in Edinburgh are expected to confirm that the minimum unit price for alcohol will increase from 50p to 65p from early May, six years after Scotland became the first part of the UK to introduce the policy.