Prime Minister David Cameron signals his support for councils wanting to introduce minimum prices for alcohol, to stop Britain’s towns and cities becoming a “Wild West”.
Mr Cameron said he would look “very sympathetically” at plans from a group of ten local authorities in Greater Manchester to introduce a minimum price per alcohol unit of 50p.
The local authorities, collectively the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, want to pass bylaws to address the public disorder and health issues caused by binge drinking.
The plan would affect all pubs, supermarkets and off-licences in the Greater Manchester area, which has a population of 3.9 million people and includes towns like Rochdale and Stockport.
While a minimum price has been backed by public health bodies and experts, it has not been met with widespread government support and Mr Cameron made it clear today that he did not want to introduce a minimum price nationwide.
The government is currently working on a consultation process over changes to licensing laws to tackle binge drinking, which closes next month.