Drink pricing

I agree wholeheartedly with Brian Monteith (Opinion, 18 January) that the concept and the practicality of minimum pricing for alcoholic drinks are fatally flawed.

I have a further concern, however. I can't help wondering just who will reap the financial benefit of this policy if it is introduced.

Clearly, some of the cheaper drinks will cost much less to manufacture than others, and someone will make large windfall profits from these if their retail price is artificially raised. Will it be the manufacturers? Unlikely, in my view. Will it be the supermarkets? I sincerely hope not. Or could it just be the respective administrations in Scotland and England, which will doubtless have their beady eyes on a new source of income?

T MARTIN JOHNSON

Edgehead Village

Pathhead, Midlothian