Chain takes aim at Scottish booze plan

EDINBURGH, Scotland, June 29 (UPI) -- A British supermarket chain is poised to take advantage of a Scottish anti-booze effort by locating warehouses near the border for Internet sales.

ASDA executives say the chain would make home deliveries north of the border, The Scotsman reports.

The Scottish National Party wants to increase prices for alcohol and raise the age for buying package goods to 21. Those 18 to 20 would still be able to buy drinks in pubs.

"There is nothing to stop companies looking at expanding their home shopping network or opening up depots just south of the border and delivering to homes in Scotland," said Rob Chester, ASDA's director of licensing.

Paul Kelly, head of corporate affairs, said the SNP plan would hurt lower-income residents in Scotland. He suggested they would have to pay high prices in stores while richer Scots would get deals on the Internet.

None of the other three major British supermarket chains have said anything about the plan, the report said.