had fresh evidence to support its case.

But opponents countered by saying more objections were expected.

The Warwick supermarket appealed to the Supreme Court last May after the Liquor Licencing Authority refused to grant it a licence.

But Chief Justice the Hon. Sir James Astwood supported the authority's ruling.

It was "reasonable'', he said, adding, "Liquor should not be available for sale to anyone in such an important and sensitive district where young people are engaged in academic pursuits.'' Giant Foods is almost directly opposite Warwick Academy.

It is one of the few supermarkets in Bermuda that does not sell liquor. Owner Mr. George Whitecross argued the supermarket needed to sell liquor to be profitable and it was unfair it was unable to.

But the school and a band of area residents objected on the grounds the sale of liquor would attract loiterers and put students in contact with alcoholic beverages.

Police are not objecting, as long as Giant applies for a provisional licence, which the supermarket's lawyer said it intended to do.

Once a storage area and security booth to sell the liquor from are built -- as planned by the owner -- Police would have no objection to a full licence being issued.

A three-day hearing was set down starting on October 18.

Lawyer Mr. Kim White represented the community action group WARCAG and Ms Karen Williams appeared on behalf of Warwick Academy. Mr. White and Ms Williams said they expected further objections to be filed in writing in the coming weeks.

Giant will be represented by Mr. Alan Dunch.

Two members of the five-person authority said they would stand down because of conflict of interest -- one was Mr. White's aunt and the other was a member of WARCAG.