ALDI shoppers hanging for a bottle of wine in the sub-five-dollar range may be left thirsty after the supermarket giant had its liquor license knocked back.

The German retailers’ plans to sell booze in Harrisdale were rejected, with WA’s liquor licensor citing concerns over the large proportion of booze options in the lower end of the price scale.

A decision handed down by the Director for Liquor Licensing suggested Aldi’s cheap booze posed a greater public safety risk than other retailers.

Aldi proposed to have 22 wine varieties priced below $5 a bottle and three priced at a miserly $2.79.

The Director for Liquor Licensing also cited concerns over Aldi’s integration of alcohol among general grocery items.

Meanwhile, the director approved a Woolworths liquor store in the same Harrisdale Shopping Centre on the grounds it offered a bigger range, was segregated from general items and posed less of a public health risk.

Only one liquor store was permitted in the new shopping centre and the director determined the Woolworths option would “provide greater benefits to consumers in the locality”.

McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth, the Director for Public Health and Commissioner for Police all objected to the Aldi liquor application.

Meanwhile, Aldi was successful in getting a liquor license for its Butler store and is awaiting other applications for stores in Joondalup, Wattle Grove and South Lake.