bad news for the mancs

[gmb45]

Manchester goes it alone by imposing 50p minimum price on drinks to combat drunkenness


hope the coonts dont move to nottingham


Shops and pubs could be banned from selling cheap alcohol in a radical step to tackle Britain's binge-drinking problem.
While the Government has so far refused to back setting a minimum price for alcoholic drinks, councils are planning to take action through a by-law.
They are investigating whether licensed retailers could be forced to charge a minimum of 50p per unit of alcohol, putting an end to cut-price deals blamed for drink-fuelled disorder and health problems.


Night out: Drinkers in Manchester could end up paying more for their alcohol if a bylaw is introduced ordering pubs and shops to charge a minimum price per alcoholic unit.




It would mean drinkers paying at least ?4.50 for a bottle of wine, ?6 for a six-pack of lager and ?14 for a 700ml bottle of whisky.
Doctors have long called for such action, which they say could save more than 3,000 lives a year.
But ministers drawing up plans to tackle cheap alcohol sales are so far understood to have ruled out minimum pricing.
CURRENT UNIT PRICES


TESCO: Becks 18x 275ml bottles - ?5 = 20p/unit
SAINSBURY'S: Cider two-litre bottle - ?1.21 = 14p/unit
ASDA: Carling 15x 440ml cans - ?10.00 = 37p/unit





Now, however, the ten councils which make up Greater Manchester are looking into introducing their own price restrictions in a move being watched closely by other authorities.
Under the plans, a by-law would be passed requiring pubs, restaurants, supermarkets and off-licences to price alcoholic drinks based on the number of units they contain.
The suggested minimum figure of 50p a unit of alcohol is supported by the Government's former chief medical officer, Liam Donaldson.
He said that if introduced nation-wide it would reduce alcohol consumption by 7 per cent, cut deaths by 3,393 a year and result in 97,900 fewer hospital admissions, as well as cutting drink-fuelled violence.
However, the councils - acting collectively as the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities - will need to overcome legal and practical hurdles first.
Critics will point out that shoppers could drive a few miles to an area which does not have a by-law to take advantage of cheaper deals.
In addition, the big supermarkets are likely to challenge any proposals as breaching competition law, and permission would be needed from the Home Secretary.
Eamonn Boylan, chief executive of Stockport Council, one of the authorities involved, said: 'There is a lot of support to say minimum price is the best mechanism for making the most impact on alcohol consumption.

'We want to test the possibility of what would a by-law look like, what would local authorities have to do, how would we implement it and what would the impact of that be on trading standards.'

Out for the count: A drunken girl lies unconscious on the ground after an evening's drinking in a city centre. It is hoped a new bylaw would help prevent such behaviour in Manchester.



The by-law is backed by NHS-supported campaign group Our Life, which says North West England has one of the worst alcohol problems in the country.
It found 18 bottles of Becks lager on sale for ?5 at Tesco and a two-litre bottle of cider at Sainsbury's for ?1.21 - 14p a unit.
Spokesman Calum Irving said. 'If you are a sensible drinker you will hardly be affected [by the by-law].
'There may be some concerns from those who live on the edge of a minimum price boundary that people will cross into neighbouring areas to bulk-buy. But we would hope that once people see the benefits of introducing a minimum price, other areas will follow.'

End of the road? Binge-drinking as a result of the sale of cheap alcohol could end in Greater Manchester if a new bylaw is created to ensure a minimum sale price.



A report on the proposal will be considered later in the year. If it proves feasible it would be up to individual councils to implement.
However Andrew Opie of the British Retail Consortium said: 'We have still seen no firm evidence of a link between price and irresponsible consumption.'
Last week ministers pledged to dismantle Labour's discredited 24-hour drinking laws and investigate how to crack down on cheap alcohol sales.
Plans in Scotland for a minimum price for alcohol were blocked in June. It was feared it would breach EU competition rules and punish responsible drinkers unfairly.

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50p a unit: City centre to establish minimum alcohol sale price | Mail Online

[Meat-Head]

Why no just limit the amount a pub can sell in an evening, per person.

Say a limit of 25 botles / 30 pints, 20 shots, etc

OR

Make it a 'cheap' first pint served in plastic glasses, and the price goes up the more you drink. in the pub

[gmb45]

Why no just limit the amount a pub can sell per person.
Say a limit of 25 botles / 30 pints, 20 shots,

well them amounts would just about take care of the dinner time sesh, so would we be allowed these amounts at night time as well meaty ?

[Canker_Canison]

So happy thoughts for you....

1.... There is no link to show a price increase will reduce consumption. A 'Government' study claims it will, but used old data not even from this country.

2.... There's no guarentee they will be able to pass the by-law. There will also be objections as they try to pass it, then referals to the EU Courts.

3.... Even if it is passed & the 50p minimum comes into force. There won't be a drop in consumption, just a drop in other areas. People will always find the money for alcohol, even if it means spending less on food.
This behaviour will show in surveys & polls.