Plans to ban multi-buy price promotions in Scotland could lead to cross-border shopping into England and Northern Ireland, the head of a UK trade organisation says.

Jeremy Beadles, chief executive of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association, said plans by the Scottish government to ban multi-buys from early next year, would "undoubtedly" bring about such a situation .

"If you get interference in the marketplace you get unintended consequences of your actions," said Beadles.

The Scottish Government also wants to "stop shops displaying beer all around the store or cross-merchandising wine in the pizza counter to entice impulse buyers to buy and drink more alcohol", said justice minister Kenny MacAskill, in plans scheduled to begin in 2009.