ALDI has had a big win in its bid to sell booze, with the Liquor Commission granting the supermarket giant a licence allowing it to sell alcohol at its Harrisdale store after a successful appeal.

The Director for Liquor Licensing had rejected Aldi’s proposal to sell wine priced below $5 a bottle and three varieties at $2.79 at the southern suburbs outlet — despite a Woolworths liquor store in the same shopping centre being approved.

But the Liquor Commission ruled that the two applications should not have been treated as competing, and granted Aldi the right to sell its low-priced wine, beer and spirits.

The licence, which allows the sale of 60 wines, 16 beers, 15 spirits and four ciders, is conditional on the bottles not being refrigerated, being monitored by CCTV and being clearly separated from the store’s grocery items.

Since arriving in WA early last year, Aldi has secured licences to sell liquor at its Butler and Wattle Grove stores, and is appealing against a decision to reject a licence in Joondalup.

The McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth, the Director for Public Health and the Police Commissioner objected to the Joondalup application.

McCusker centre executive director Julia Stafford voiced fears cheap booze would target the young and problem drinkers.

She said it would set a dangerous precedent for the sale of alcohol in other WA supermarkets.

Liquor Commission chairman Seamus Raffety said there was nothing to suggest the granting of the licence would result in an increase in harm and ill-health in the specific area.

Aldi has also applied to sell alcohol at its Rockingham and Kalamunda stores, with the application stating it intends to stock at least six Margaret River wines.