The SNP is under pressure to drop plans to introduce minimum alcohol pricing after the European Court ruled that similar policies on tobacco are "illegal".
Austria, France and Ireland had set pricing policies for cigarettes, saying the move was motivated by health reasons.
The SNP wants to apply the same measures to drink in an effort to tackle Scotland's booze culture.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the comparison between the SNP plan and other countries tobacco laws was "inappropriate and irrelevant".
However, opposition MSPs claim the ruling puts the minimum pricing proposals in jeopardy and the opponents of the scheme have now called for a rethink.
Gavin Hewitt, chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, said: "The Scottish Government must recognise the legal situation and drop this proposal which would be hugely damaging to Scottish jobs."
Jeremy Beadles, chief executive of the Wine and Spirits Trade Association, said: "Today's judgment leaves no room for doubt.
"Health reasons cannot be used to justify minimum pricing."
Ministers have not confirmed what the proposed minimum price will be, but an example of 40p per unit has been widely used.
It claimed that coupled with a ban on irresponsible promotions, alcohol-related deaths could be slashed by 365 a year in a decade.
Last month, a Government-backed research paper claimed the proposals could help to save the nation almost £1 billion.
However, opposition MSPs said the European ruling casts the scheme into doubt.
Tory deputy leader Murdo Fraser said the ruling was a "hammer blow" to the SNP`s plans, while Labour health spokeswoman Cathy Jamieson said: "The Scottish Government needs to make clear if the legal opinion they have has been superseded by the ruling by the European Court's Advocate General."
However, Nicola Sturgeon insisted the ruling would not thrown the Government's plans off course. She said: "In fact, the European Commission has already said that Community legislation does not prohibit minimum pricing for alcohol on public health grounds. Obviously, we rely on our own legal advice to progress this policy which is fair, proportionate and necessary to protect public health in Scotland.
"The issue here is ending a situation where three-litre bottles of chemical cider are sold for £3, or 700ml bottles of industrial vodka for less than £7. These are the products favoured by problem drinkers and are exactly the ones that will be targeted by minimum pricing - not quality products sold at responsible prices."
