The booze battleground:

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Labour and Tories head to head over 24-hour pubs




Big tax increases on strong alcohol, a 'levy' on late-opening pubs and a ban on supermarket discount deals are unveiled by the Tories today to take back town centres from violent drunks.
The party will also deliver a manifesto commitment to rip up Labour's 24-hour licensing laws which are blamed for bringing mayhem to the streets.
The crackdown fires the starting gun on a General Election 'booze war' with Labour, which today announces its own blitz on 'irresponsible' drinking.


Target: Binge drinking and anti-social behaviour



Under a new mandatory Home Office code, 'all you can drink for £10' offers will be outlawed, along with a raft of other drinking games and promotions. Pubs will be forced to offer small glasses of wine and free tap water - but controversial 'happy hours' have once again survived a Government ban.
The fact that both Labour and the Tories are unveiling their attempts to tackle 'binge Britain' on the same day signals that the issue will be a key election battleground.


It means that, whichever party wins the election, access to cheap alcohol promotions will be severely curtailed.
The Tories said drastic action was needed to reverse the harm caused by Labour's 24-hour drinking regime.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling said: 'It's time we took back control of our town and city centres on a Friday and Saturday night, and turned them back into places where people can have a good night out without the fear of being caught up in binge drinking and antisocial behaviour.

'We need to scrap the Government's late-night licensing regime, give local people back powers over the number of licensed premises in their areas, and introduce charges for late night licences to pay for better policing.
'We can't go on with the binge drinking culture that has built up under Labour.'




Under Mr Grayling's plans, any pub, bar or club staying open after midnight, or shop selling alcohol after 10.30pm, will be forced to pay a 'late night drinking levy'.
The cash raised will pay the bill of policing the streets outside their premises and cleaning up vomit and broken glass.

The duty on 'problem drinks' will be hiked. Tax on alcopops will be trebled, increasing the price of a 275ml bottle by more than 60p. A four-pack of Carlsberg Special Brew strong lager will rise by £1.33. The duty on super- strength cider will be doubled, increasing the cost of a four-pack of Diamond White by 74p.

Supermarkets will be barred from selling alcohol at less than cost price.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said the Government's own measures would target 'irresponsible' drinking.

He said: 'Alcohol-related crime costs the UK billions of pounds every year and while the vast majority of retailers are responsible, a minority run irresponsible promotions which fuel the excessive drinking that leads to alcohol-related crime and disorder.

'These practices have a real impact on society, not to mention the lives of those who just want to enjoy a good night out. The Government and the industry have a duty to act, and this mandatory code will allow us to take action against an issue which affects us all.

'We have consulted extensively with the public and the alcohol industry to ensure that these conditions will only target the most irresponsible practices that most people agree should not happen anywhere.'

[shuffs]

I've never known binge drinkers visiting the supermarket on a
night out to purchase special offers. Binge drinking is now the
common term for anyone who gets p*ssed when there on day/night out.
Stopping supermarket offers will only punish the
majority of sensible tipplers rather than the mindless minority.
Keep the Tories out!