The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has said that there should be no code of practice for alcohol retailers.
Instead, the ACS argued that local authorities should be given support so that they are able to enforce powers they can currently employ with greater success.
Chief executive at the organisation James Lowman said that the move would “duplicate existing laws”.
“There is already legislation in place to tackle alcohol retailers who persistently flout the law and sell alcohol to under 18′s or to drunks,” he commented.
And the proposed code of practice would just a “burden” on retailers at a time when they are already operating under legislation of different forms, Lowman suggested.
He said: “Local authorities need guidance to use existing legislation to target the small minority of problem premises.”
The Department of Health is proposing to create the code in its consultation Safe, Sensible and Social.
Supermarkets have come under fire recently for selling cut-price drinks, including Tesco with its Carlsberg Export offer.
