Only a handful of countries, mainly in eastern Europe, drink more than the British. The Scots, probably the thirstiest of the bunch, are determined to cut down. Today the devolved Scottish government will introduce a minimum price of 50p (69 American cents) per unit of alcohol (a pint of beer has about two units). The country joins a handful of others to have introduced some form of minimum price—mostly big-boozing places such as Russia and Ukraine. Its introduction will be felt. By one estimate, more than two-thirds of alcohol sold in Britain currently costs below 50p a unit. A minimum price is likely to reduce consumption a little, especially of the high-strength, cheap grog favoured by the hardest drinkers. Public health could improve. But so will alcohol firms’ bottom lines, because the government is in effect price-fixing for them. Both doctors and booze-mongers will be clinking the champagne glasses tonight.