The Scottish Government will set a minimum unit price for alcohol from May next year, the health secretary has announced.

Shona Robison updated MSPs on the policy after the Supreme Court ruled it was lawful last week.

MSPs backed the policy five years ago but its implementation was blocked by a lengthy legal challenge from the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), which argued it broke EU law.

In her statement at Holyrood, Robison told MSPs the SWA had agreed to pay the Scottish Government's legal costs over the dispute.

Robison said: "Minimum unit pricing of alcohol has been delayed far too long. During the court cases, lives have been lost. That is why I will move to implement as soon as is practicable."

A consultation on the regulations to set the minimum unit price will begin in December.

Ministers are proposing the order setting the minimum price will be laid before the Scottish Parliament at the start of March 2018.

Robison added: "Next May, we take a huge step forwards in tackling one of Scotland's enduring health harms.

"Minimum unit pricing of alcohol can help to turn the tide on alcohol harm and May 1 will be a landmark moment."