A legal challenge to the Scottish government's plans to introduce minimum pricing per unit of alcohol has failed.
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) took action against the proposal, which it said would breach European law, after it was passed by MSPs.
A Court of Session ruling dismissed the action and said plans to introduce 50p per unit minimum pricing were legal.
The SWA said it was surprised and disappointed by the ruling and would appeal the decision.
Lord Doherty said the minimum alcohol pricing policy was within the powers of Scottish ministers and not incompatible with EU law.
A summary of his decision said: "The court ruled that the Acts of Union were not an impediment to the minimum pricing measures.
"The court also decided that the measures were not incompatible with EU law."
Under the Scottish government's plans, the cheapest bottle of wine would be £4.69 and a four-pack of lager would cost at least £3.52.
The SWA had warned the measure would set a precedent where health concerns were allowed to interfere with the free trade of goods and services.
In his ruling, Lord Docherty also said there was no need to refer any issues around alcohol pricing and EU law to another court.
He said: "The court was satisfied that it was unnecessary and inappropriate to refer any question of EU law to the Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling."
Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil said: "We welcome today's favourable opinion from the Court of Session on minimum unit pricing of alcohol.
"We have always believed minimum unit pricing is the right thing to do to tackle Scotland's problematic relationship with alcohol."
Source: BBC news, 03/05/13
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