THE supermarket at the centre of a binge-drinking row today defended its cheap alcohol prices, saying it was proud to sell the cheapest booze in York.

On Saturday, an Evening Press investigation found leading supermarkets throughout the city selling high-strength drink at low-cost prices, prompting condemnation from alcohol abuse experts.

At Netto, in Layerthorpe, we were able to buy a potentially fatal mixture of drinks, containing nearly 30 units of alcohol, for less than £5.

Just £4.74 was enough to buy two litres of "extra strong" cider, four cans of lager, two alco-pops and a bottle of white wine.

Alison Tubbs, of the York Alcohol Advice Service, said this was enough to kill someone, while Dr Moira Plant, a professor in alcohol studies, called it "remarkably cheap".

But today, the supermarket denied it was doing anything wrong.

Company spokesman Dan Phillips said: "Netto is a responsible retailer and we operate strict codes of practice on alcohol sales to all customers. Staff are prompted at each alcohol sale to request identification if the customer appears to be under 21.

"As a value retailer, we operate in a commercially fierce market and, as such, we pride ourselves on delivering best price to our customers across all product types."

Meanwhile, MPs in the area have responded to our investigation by urging supermarkets to act responsibly.

John Grogan, MP for Selby, said: "It is not acceptable that supermarkets use alcohol as a loss leader, in the same way they might do with baked beans. In recent years, the pub trade has begun to clean up its act with much tougher codes of practice with regards to promotions and pricing policies. The supermarkets now need to do the same."

A loss leader is a product sold at or below cost level, to attract customers into a shop.

York MP Hugh Bayley also said shops should not use alcohol as a loss-leader, adding: "I would like to see supermarkets helping bodies like York Alcohol Advice Service by promoting healthy lifestyles."

But he said it was wrong to blame the stores for people drinking recklessly. He said: "Most people drink responsibly and the few who do not are responsible for their own misbehaviour."

Ms Tubbs and Dr Plant called for Government regulations to prevent supermarkets selling drink too cheaply.

But Mr Bayley said: "Alcohol costs more in Britain than on the continent, and I would rather clamp down on illegally imported cheap booze."

Updated: 11:40 Monday, March 27, 2006