The Scottish government is considering banning "two-fer" specials and other cut-price alcohol promotions at liquor shops as part of a plan to curb binge drinking, the Financial Times reported Sept. 5.

 "This is immediate action to kick-start a long-term drive to change Scotland's culture -- to help make sure drinking to get drunk is simply no longer seen as acceptable, to end the days of 'buy two, get one free' type promotions reducing the cost of beer to as little as 43p (about 87 cents) a pint," said Kenny MacAskill, justice secretary of Scotland's new National Party government.

The plan also calls for stores to sell alcohol in separate display areas to disassociate alcoholic drinks from other beverages, such as fruit juice and water. "By taking action today to turn off the tap of cheap drink, to end irresponsible promotions wherever alcohol is sold, and making sure alcohol isn't sold at every turn in the supermarket, I believe we can turn this around," MacAskill told a meeting of Alcohol Focus Scotland.

The Scottish Grocers' Federation said that outlawing promotions could force sellers to compete solely on price and could result in lower alcohol products.