HUNDREDS of lives in some of Scotland’s poorest communities will be lost without an increase to the minimum unit pricing for alcohol, MSPs have been warned.

Introduced at 50p in 2018, it is widely credited with falls in alcohol-related deaths (13.4 per cent) and hospital admissions (4.1 per cent).

Now, ahead of a crucial vote to renew the legislation, more than 80 organisations have united to write to Holyrood’s health committee arguing an increase to 65p could save as many as 800 lives.