Asda will stop selling alcohol 24 hours a day and will impose Challenge 25 restrictions on alcohol sales in all its stores, The Grocer understands.

The retailer is due to reveal the measures - and others - on Monday in a new initiative designed to curb underage binge drinking and anti-social behaviour. Chief executive Andy Bond said the steps would "go a long way towards tackling the issue, without the need for further legislation or delay".

News of Asda's measures emerged after Tesco said on Thursday it would work with the government to take an active role in discussions around the introduction of legislation to ensure responsible pricing on alcohol. It said the law prevented supermarkets co-operating to tackle the issue, and it was reluctant to act alone because it could lose business to its rivals.

"All shops that sell alcohol need to act together and this is where we are being held back by the law," said Lucy Neville-Rolfe, executive director for corporate and legal affairs. "The only safe solution is for the government to initiate and lead these discussions. If ministers act we pledge our support in helping to develop proposals and make the legislation work."

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