Plans to introduce a minimum price per unit of alcohol across Scotland have moved forward after the Scottish Parliament voted in favour of the proposed new legislation.

All of the provisions outlined in the Alcohol Bill were backed in a Stage One vote, after health secretary Nicola Sturgeon called on members of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) to "put the national interest first". Sturgeon said: "I welcome the fact that all of the provisions of the Alcohol Bill have passed Stage One and will now proceed to the detailed scrutiny of Stage Two.

"The public health of Scotland is more important than party politics and, as the Bill progresses, I hope that all parties will listen to the evidence and put the national interest first."