Minimum drinks prices suggested in MPs report

Minimum prices for alcohol should be introduced in order to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by binge drinking, an MPs report has said.

The report into anti-social behaviour, published by the home affairs select committee, also called for a clampdown on cheap drinks promotions and said that pubs and clubs should contribute towards funding policing to tackle alcohol-fuelled public disorder.

However, the report concluded that there was no "clear-cut" evidence to suggest that the introduction of laws legalising 24-hour drinking would have any effect on the current situation

Committee chairman John Denham said that the underlying problem was "too many people drinking heavily in small geographical areas". The report said that solutions such as staggering venue closing times might help reduce some problems, but may cause other problems for police, such as anticipating when and where officers needed to be deployed.

Mr Denham said that longer-term policy needed to concentrate on "proper city planning with diverse activities supported by adequate transport and other facilities".

Mark Hastings. Director of Communications of the British Beer and Pub Association said any venues introducing minimum prices for alcohol would be "breaking the law". He said: "The Office of Fair Trading has consistently stated that price fixing or minimum pricing is prohibited under UK and European Law."

Mr Hastings also criticised the suggestion that pubs and clubs should make a financial contribution towards paying for policing. He said: "The industry already pays more than £22 billion in taxes every year, twice the annual police budget. Added to this is the investment of over £60 million per annum in CCTV, door staff and security, plus business rates paid to local authorities. This is a sector that already invests heavily in community safety and corporate responsibility."

"As an industry we have already banned dodgy promotions, such as entry fees linked to unlimited free drinks, drinking games and reward schemes redeemable over short periods."

Mr Hastings concluded: "We continue to encourage the police to use the powers already available to close down pubs fuelling anti-social behaviour. Irresponsible promotions and bad publicans have no place in our sector."

(KmcA)