The Scottish Government has said it wants the minimum price for a unit of alcohol to be set at 45p.
This means a two-litre bottle of supermarket-brand cider would treble in price from about £1.32 to around £3.80 and supermarket-brand vodka would go up from about £8 to about £11.80.
But the minority SNP administration lacks the necessary support to get the measure passed in Holyrood. Labour, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats are united in opposition to it.
Any minimum price would affect cheaper supermarket brands but would have little impact on the more expensive labels.
Scottish Government figures show that the price of own-brand whisky bought from Asda and Tesco would increase from £9.20 and £9.95, respectively, to £12.60.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "I believe it is crucial that we introduce realistic alcohol pricing. That's why we are taking decisive action, including proposals to introduce a minimum price per unit, which would bring these pocket-money prices to an end.
"Getting the price right is vital for minimum pricing to work; too low and it will be simply ineffective.
"After careful consideration, we believe that 45p is the right price.
"Our proposals have already won backing from respected health professionals at home and abroad and I hope, for the sake of our nation's health, they will also win the backing of the Scottish Parliament."
The measure is part of the Scottish Government's Alcohol Bill, Stage 1 of which was by Holyrood in June.
The Scottish Government has said it wants the minimum price for a unit of alcohol to be set at 45p.
This means a two-litre bottle of supermarket-brand cider would treble in price from about £1.32 to around £3.80 and supermarket-brand vodka would go up from about £8 to about £11.80.
But the minority SNP administration lacks the necessary support to get the measure passed in Holyrood. Labour, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats are united in opposition to it.
Any minimum price would affect cheaper supermarket brands but would have little impact on the more expensive labels.
Scottish Government figures show that the price of own-brand whisky bought from Asda and Tesco would increase from £9.20 and £9.95, respectively, to £12.60.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "I believe it is crucial that we introduce realistic alcohol pricing. That's why we are taking decisive action, including proposals to introduce a minimum price per unit, which would bring these pocket-money prices to an end.
"Getting the price right is vital for minimum pricing to work; too low and it will be simply ineffective.
"After careful consideration, we believe that 45p is the right price.
"Our proposals have already won backing from respected health professionals at home and abroad and I hope, for the sake of our nation's health, they will also win the backing of the Scottish Parliament."
The measure is part of the Scottish Government's Alcohol Bill, Stage 1 of which was by Holyrood in June.