...And it’s bad news if you fancy something a little cheaper

SUPERMARKETS are preparing to end the sale of cheap ‘own brand’ spirits as Scotland’s minimum pricing laws come into force this week.

Chains such as Morrisons and Tesco have traditionally sold cheaper whisky, gin and vodka using ‘Basics’ or ‘Saver’ labelling.

But under the new rules – which will see shops required to charge a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol – the prices would have to rise by up to 30 per cent.

Industry insiders have disclosed that supermarkets are likely to discontinue selling the own brand products north of the Border as they are no longer profitable. The Scottish Government last year won a longrunning battle with the Scotch Whisky Association to use pricing to help reduce Scotland’s love of booze.

The changes will not affect drinks such as alcopops and Buckfast Tonic Wine, which have been linked to violence and anti-social behaviour. Instead, wines and spirits favoured by reasonable drinkers face substantial increases as soon as the law changes on Tuesday.

Lidl has been selling 70cl bottles of Rachmaninoff triple distilled vodka for £9.99. It contains 26 units of alcohol, which means it can no longer be legally sold in Scotland for less than £13. Similarly, Morrisons’ ‘Savers’ Scotch Whisky will have to rise from its current £11.76 to £14 because it contains 28 units of alcohol.

One supermarket executive told The Scottish Mail on Sunday: ‘Don’t be surprised if these vanish from the shelves by the end of next week. It’s not just our supermarket who will be getting rid of them – every store will. They have simply lost their unique selling point, that they were cheaper than well-known brands.’

Meanwhile, drinks retailers in England are gearing up for an increase in cross-Border traffic as Scots stock up on lower-priced booze.

The Bargain Booze chain has just opened its fifth branch in Carlisle and its Scotland Road store is preparing to welcome more shoppers from north of the Border. Manager Jude Cheyne said: ‘A lot of people from Scotland work in Carlisle, so we expect more of them to pop in on their way home. I mean, why wouldn’t you?’

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said cross-Border trade and internet sales would be monitored by NHS officials to see what impact they have.