The joint study by Alcohol Focus Scotland and Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems and agencies in England has found alcohol products are continuing to be sold at so-called “pocket money prices” that will attract young people.

It found supermarkets had, over the past two weeks, been selling two cans of lager for less than the price of a can of leading brand cola.

It said a young person receiving the average pocket money of £5.89 could buy eight litres of cider containing 33 units of alcohol, a potentially lethal amount, from branches.

The research also discovered branded vodka was sold for 32p a unit, less than a can of cola.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon is expected today to give details of the Scottish Government’s next steps to address Scotland’s alcohol misuse problem. It is committed to introducing minimum pricing.

Dr Evelyn Gillan, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland said: “We need minimum pricing now more than ever.

“Over the past few weeks, supermarkets have sought to undermine the new licensing legislation banning bulk discount buys by reducing the price of individual cans or bottles and encouraging online customers to buy cases of wine distributed from England. These antics make it clear that the big supermarkets are motivated by profit not public interest.”