Asda 'to sell cheap drink on net'

Published on Sunday 29 June 2008 19:56

A SUPERMARKET chain yesterday warned it could undermine Scottish Government plans to crack down on cut price deals on alcohol by selling heavily discounted drink on the internet.

Asda claimed there is "nothing to stop" supermarkets building distribution centres in England and transporting alcohol direct to homes in Scotland. The firm suggested such a move is inevitable if SNP ministers attempt to deny customers cheap deals available in England.

Asda is the first of the big four supermarkets to break its silence over the SNP plans, announced two weeks ago, which include measures to raise the drinking age in off-sales to 21. The plans would also set a minimum price on all alcohol.

Rob Chester, head of licensing at Asda, said: "There is nothing to stop companies expanding their home shopping network or opening depots just south of the border and delivering to homes in Scotland."

Paul Kelly, the store's corporate affairs director, added:

"These plans could create two classes of customer – one who is reliant on the local supermarket because he uses cash and one who'll get deals over the web.

"This about a 10,000-a-year person being punished for wanting to have a drink at the end of a week. That is the consequence of what is being proposed."