Booze price fears.

CUT-PRICE booze in supermarkets and off-sales faces the chop from next week.

Fears are growing that three-for-two offers on wine and buy-one-get-one-free deals on cases of beer could disappear.

The warning has been issued by the licensed trade, retailers and business chiefs just days before the new Licensing Act comes into force next Tuesday.

Problems centre on new regulations which will stop "happy hours" and prevent pubs and clubs giving away free drinks.

Unfair But licensing boards have powers to interpret the rules locally - earlier this month licensing chiefs in Edinburgh indicated they might apply the rule to off-sales.

Wine and Spirits Trade Association chief executive Jeremy Beadles said: "Edinburgh's interpretation of this ban on promotions is wrong and unfair.

"What this could lead to is the farcical situation where someone who lives on the city boundary could not buy alcohol on special offer in their local shop, but by just crossing the road into another local authority area, they could."

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DEALS: Cheap drink