The makers of Frosty Jack’s have heavily criticised plans to place a minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol which will make the cost of the cider skyrocket in Scotland.

Aston Manor Cider said that, to make a misused substance more expensive - or to restrict access to it - would only see users abuse something else.

The company also said that those working in drug and alcohol services, and in the homelessness sector, will therefore be under even greater strain because of cuts.

READ MORE: This is how much booze will cost in Scotland under new minimum pricing rules

Aston Manor further blasted the news by saying that, with the “enormous” resources that have been used to support “this flawed policy,” the same time and money should have been spent supporting those struggling with substance abuse.

The strongly-worded reaction comes just a day after it was announced Scotland would become the first country in the world to introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol.

A 310cl bottle of Frosty Jack’s cider contains 22.5 units of alcohol. It currently costs £3.59, but will now rocket up to a staggering £11.25.

READ MORE: Watch Glasgow comedian Limmy lament the death of Frosty Jack’s with daft sketch

“We believe sincerely this is the wrong outcome,” said the company after the Supreme Court ruling.

“The legal arguments aside, the premise for MUP is flawed, based as it is on an untested forecast model that believes that the heaviest drinkers are very sensitive to price increases.

“This is not only counter to common sense, it is not the view of frontline professionals supporting those in crisis.”

READ MORE: Glasgow residents share opinions on new minimum pricing rules for alcohol

The statement continued: “Those working in drug and alcohol services and the homelessness sector are clear that to make a substance misused [sic] more expensive or to restrict supply will merely displace misuse to another substance or prompt a greater proportion of scarce resources to be directed to sustain misuse, making matter worse for those in crisis and those around them.”

The UK’s highest court gave its backing to the controversial measure in what ministers in Edinburgh hailed as an “historic and far-reaching judgment.”

The move came after figures showed there were 1,265 alcohol related deaths in Scotland in 2016 - a rise of 10% on the previous year.

READ MORE: How serious is our relationship with booze? All your questions answered

Aston Manor Cider continued: “In addition, it will adversely affect legitimate consumers, especially those on modest incomes that are typically lower per capita consumers of alcohol than those on higher incomes.

“It will also disadvantage legitimate retailers and producers - a triple whammy with no discernible improvement in the levels of alcohol misuse.

“We are also concerned with the enormous resources that have been used to support this flawed policy and spent on this protracted process.

“The same time and money would have been better invested to support people struggling with substance misuse and to develop more effective approaches.

READ MORE: Minimum alcohol pricing drive in Scotland - the timeline of events

A focus on the individual and their circumstance is the most effective approach, though we note that resources invested in drug and alcohol services and in the homelessness sector are being cut.”

Alcohol misuse results in about 670 hospital admissions and 24 deaths a week - with the Scottish Government saying death rates are almost 1.5 times higher now than they were in the early 1980s.

And it estimated that alcohol misuse costs Scotland some £3.6 billion a year - the equivalent of £900 for every adult.

Sales figures also showed that, in 2016, 17% more alcohol was sold per person in Scotland than in England and Wales.