A study of heavy drinkers in Scotland who consume up to 800 units of alcohol a week found they were buying cheaper drink than most other people.

One of the report's authors said it was "likely" the introduction of a minimum price for alcohol - as proposed by the Scottish Government - would reduce the amount of drink consumed by these problem drinkers and would also lead to a fall in alcohol-related illnesses.

A total of 377 people with serious alcohol problems and who were receiving help at Edinburgh hospitals were interviewed as part of the research.

They drank an average of 198 units of alcohol in a typical week, but some were drinking up to 800 units - the equivalent of 400 pints of beer.

The research, carried out by experts from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh and the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, found that the lower they price paid for alcohol, the more they consumed.

Patients in the study paid an average of 43 pence per unit of alcohol - much lower than the average price paid across Scotland in 2007 of 72 pence a unit.

Drinks in the study also bought most of their alcohol from off-sales, where they paid an average of 34 pence per unit - which is lower than the 40 pence average price paid per unit of alcohol in off-sales in 2007.

And 70% of the alcohol drank by patients in the study had been sold at or below a price of 40 pence a unit.

The study found that vodka was the most popular drink amongst the group of patients, but it also noted: "White cider is the beverage to which our patients appear to have particularly cheap access, along with whisky."

Dr Jonathan Chick, of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, one of the report's authors said: "Because the average unit price paid by these chronically ill patients was considerably lower than the rest of the Scottish population, it is likely that eliminating the cheapest alcohol sales by minimum pricing will result in reduced overall consumption by this group of drinkers with a fairly immediate reduction in serious alcohol-related illnesses in our community."

He also pointed out information on how much people drink usually comes from surveys, but added those who drank the most did not usually take part in these.

And he said that meant this research provided "important information on how price changes might affect those most affected by alcohol".

Dr Bruce Ritson, chair of Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP), said that the new research "makes an important contribution to the debate and adds to the evidence base on the likely health benefits of minimum pricing".

Last month a study by Sheffield University academics suggested that hundreds of lives could be saved every year with minimum pricing, which may also reduce crime and alcohol-related illnesses.

The study, which was commissioned by the Scottish Government, said that over 10 years £950 million could be saved in health spending, criminal justice and employment if a 40-pence-per-unit minimum price was implemented.