Plans to introduce a minimum price for alcohol could give the drinks industry a huge leap in income, an Aberdeen-based economist said on Thursday.

Professor Anne Ludbrook also says consumption would fall, improving public health and creating a "win-win" situation for all.

The claim came from Aberdeen-based health economist who calculated that consumption could fall by as much as 30% while the industry's revenue could leap by as much as 68% - as it would keep most of the extra cash generated by a legally-imposed minimum price.

The findings were published as the political row continued to rage over the way the Scottish Government is seeking parliamentary approval for its anti-drink measures.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have accused ministers of trying to bulldoze controversial measures through Holyrood, and claim that without a change of tack the Government is facing certain defeat.

The proposals include a minimum price, yet to be fixed, for selling alcohol.

It is aimed at the sale of cheap drink in off-sales and would be achieved by making a minimum price a mandatory condition for being granted a licence.

A figure of 40p per unit of alcohol - making the minimum price of a 13% bottle of wine £3.90 - has been widely speculated.

The research by Professor Ludbrook, of the health economics research unit at the University of Aberdeen, calculates that even if the minimum price is set lower than this, at 30p, the drinks industry would see a 68% rise in revenue while selling 30%  less of heavily-discounted products.

A discounted pint of beer selling for the equivalent of 52p at present yields 35p in duty, 7p in VAT, and between 10p and 30p per unit of alcohol for the industry.

If the price went up to 68p, duty would remain the same, VAT would go up to 9p, and the industry would keep 24p per unit of alcohol.

Even if a minimum price resulted in a 30% drop in sales, the industry would still gain as it is keeping more of the money from products which are no longer discounted.

Professor Ludbrook said: "There is strong evidence that higher prices would reduce alcohol consumption.

"Minimum pricing is one means of raising prices and my analysis has shown that this could be more beneficial to the industry than the traditional approach of increasing duty.

"If a minimum price of 30p per unit was introduced, then a product which is currently heavily discounted might experience up to a 30% decrease in sales."

"However, industry revenue could actually increase by as much as 68% because most of the price increase is retained by the industry."

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "This study shows that improving public health and having a successful alcohol industry are not mutually exclusive."

The Scotch Whisky Association said the finding that a 30p minimum price would cut consumption but boost profits "defied belief".

A spokesman said: "Only a week ago, the Government's own framework document stated that the higher 40p a unit price would reduce consumption by just 2.6 percent, or less than one drink a fortnight."

He added: "In any event, a minimum pricing scheme is likely to be in breach of EU and international trade law."