MPs demand end to cheap drinks

Tuesday, 5 April 2005 12:00 AM

MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee have called for local councils to introduce minimum prices for drinks in an effort stem binge drinking and anti social behaviour.

Although bars and pubs can not legally set minimum drinks prices, the committee believes it would be legal for councils or the police to set minimum prices.

Elsewhere in the report, MPs concluded that too little was being done to tackle the surge in binge-drinking leading to violence, vandalism and ill-health.

MPs said there is "no clearcut evidence" to suggest whether 24-hour drinking will alleviate or worsen the problem and called for attention to be paid to city planning and better transport facilities, as well as minimum pricing.

"The attention on 24-hour licensing misses the point; problems of disorder are occurring now," said committee chairman John Denham.

"Effective enforcement, mandatory contributions from pubs and superclubs and minimum pricing policies all have a role to play. But the underlying problem is of too many people drinking heavily in small geographical areas and the focus of longer-term policy should be on proper city planning, with diverse activities supported by adequate transport and other facilities."

He added that changes to city planning, "with diverse activities supported by adequate transport and other facilities" were vital.

There was though praise for the Government's overall approach to anti-social behaviour, with the committee concluding that the problems had not been exaggerated by either the Government or the media.

MPs said that the Government had shown a "real commitment" to tackling the problems and it had "invested substantial resources for preventative measures and created the necessary powers."

The Home Office said it recognised that "alcohol-fuelled crime and disorder is much too high."

Mark Oaten, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said that the drinks industry must be prepared to pay for the costs related to alcohol disorder.

Mr Oaten, said: "The committee is right to suggest the use of the 'polluter pays' principle. Big night-time venues should make an up-front contribution to the costs of maintaining public safety."

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