The promotion and sale of alcohol at two local supermarkets is coming under scrutiny.

Renewed liquor licence applications are being considered for the Countdown supermarkets in the city centre and Mornington.

Alcohol is one of the first things presented to shoppers inside the supermarkets.

And the location of alcohol within the stores is a concern for health and licensing officials.

They oppose the applications to renew on-licences for the supermarkets.

But Countdown representatives say to move the alcohol display in the central supermarket alone would cost more than a million dollars.

A hearing for the applications has been adjourned until the new year.