Leader: Supermarket's small but welcome measure

SUPERMARKETS may be inching forward in cutting "loss leader" sales of alcohol, but these are inches in the right direction and more progress should follow. Yesterday supermarket giant Asda announced it would take action not to sell alcohol below cost price. The statement follows a recent announcement by Tesco that it was officially supporting minimum pricing of alcohol, a policy advanced by the Scottish Government.

Already critics have dismissed the Asda move as a "publicity stunt" while others accuse the supermarkets of giving nominal support to avoid more severe action being taken by both Westminster and Holyrood governments. It is certainly true - as we have argued here - that the minimum pricing strategy would not of itself turn round Scotland's booze culture and bring about a big drop in alcohol consumption among heavy drinkers. Such a result is going to require a wholesale cultural change with a concerted push on many fronts. But the statement by Asda does mark the start of a recognition of the problem that rock bottom alcohol pricing is causing to homes and communities. As such it should be welcomed as a positive first step, with other supermarkets encouraged to follow. Even if the Scottish Government still struggles to get its policy into legislation, a long period of excise duty increases looks to be in store.