HOW far would you go to keep your booze prices low?

English retailers are betting on that answer being pretty far as they begin stocking up for Scots flocking south on "booze cruises" to rebel against minimum pricing.

Supermarkets across the border are already stocking up in anticipation of Scots looking to avoid the 50p per unit hike to beer, cider and spirits.

Steven Atkinson, the manager of Morrison's in Berwick-upon-Tweed, told Mail Online: "We have increased our order of big packs of lager - we have bought an extra 240 packs."

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He added: "A lot of Scots came in at the weekend and asked us if our prices were going to go up too - just to check.

"It is too early to say yet what effect it will have - but we think it will have some effect. We think it will have a big effect at Christmas and on hot days. It is being monitored by head office."

There are reports towns like Berwick could be come the new "booze cruise" destination, taking over from Calais in France which was hailed as the home of cheap alcohol by UK citizens in the past.

The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon hailed the policy, designed to cut alcohol-related harm, as “bold and brave” as it was finally brought in across the country.

The first Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act was passed by MSPs at Holyrood in 2012.

The Scottish Government confirmed in February this year it would set the baseline price for alcohol at 50p a unit.

Ministers believe MUP will mostly affect the cheap white ciders and value spirits with high alcohol content that tend to be favoured by harmful drinkers.

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The Government has assured customers buying alcohol they won’t have to do anything different as minimum unit pricing starts.

Many alcohol products already cost more than 50p a unit, so consumers may find the drinks they buy at bars, restaurants and shops will cost the same as they did before.

However, cheaper drinks with high alcohol content will become more expensive.