The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has used a competition policy review to recommend that service stations, supermarkets and convenient stores be allowed to sell alcohol.

But the move is likely to create more harm says Geoff Munro, National Policy Manager with the Australian Drug Foundation. He is also concerned that the move could reduce the price of alcohol further.

"We don't need to be taking a backwards step on this by making it more available and cheaper. The big liquor barns have already driven down prices," Mr Munro says.

Alcohol is the cheapest it has ever been in Australia - particularly wine, which can deliver a standard drink for around 30 cents.

Convenient stores and petrol stations have in the past applied for liquor licenses but have been rejected.

While other countries already sell alcohol in similar stores, Mr Munro is concerned about the impact it could have on the Australian community which struggles with the effects of alcohol abuse.

"We have already come a long way in making alcohol much more available than it was 10, 20 years ago. It used to be limited to specialist stores like bottle shops and hotels. We now have big liquor barns and supermarkets with the bottle shops attached already. We don't need to take the liquor out of that store and put it onto the shelf besides the biscuits and the milk."

The ACCC says that current restrictions surrounding alcohol sales are anti-competitive.

Other recommendations made in the ACCC report include the abolition of existing retail trading hours and removing laws regarding parallel imports.

The Australian Drug Foundation argues that by reducing control over where alcohol is sold, other retailers would want to as well.

"Where would you draw the line? If convenience stores can sell it, why wouldn't fast food stores want the right to sell it?"

Mr Munro says that the issues are more important than competition and that it's inconsistent with anti-drink driving and underage drinking campaigns.

"We know that more availability and cheaper grog leads to more problems. We're just loading up our society for more problems. This is an avoidable harm and we should acknowledge that."

Source: ABC - 25 September 2014