Drinks Price Plan Will Cost Jobs

One of the world's leading Scotch whisky suppliers has warned it might have to cut hundreds of Scottish jobs, under plans for minimum drink pricing. Whyte & Mackay said the government-proposed move would force it to compete with more expensive, premium brands. The Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury's supermarket chains have also expressed concern about the plan. Scottish ministers have said radical action was needed to tackle the nation's alcohol problems. The SNP has brought forward minimum pricing, along with a series of other measures, in its Alcohol Bill, but the minority government's plan is likely to be blocked by opposition parties.