People in and around Manchester may soon be paying a minimum price for alcohol, if a proposed by-law is passed.
The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities Health Commission, an umbrella group for 10 local authorities, wants to criminalise shops and bars which sell alcohol for less than 50p per unit.
This would mean at least £6 is charged for six cans or bottles of lager, £5.50 for two litres of cider, £4.50 for a typical bottle of wine and £14 for 70cl of whisky.
The commission claims a minimum alcohol price will reduce the number of excessive drinkers and improve people’s health across the region. However people may simply buy cheaper alcohol in bulk from nearby counties.
Details of how the by-law could work are being written for the commission.
Stockport Council’s Ian Ratcliffe said the plan will consider how alcohol affects public health and the environment.
He said: “Putting together a model for a by-law is a very complex issue. It may be a good idea but there are obviously so many difficult aspects to it, so what the AGMA has decided is for someone to go away and look at how it could be done and they will consider a report in October.”
Your comments (terms and conditions apply):
“No! The people who cause trouble after a night out binge drinking in town centre bars and clubs are already paying much more than the minimum unit price for alcohol. This proposal will not affect them. The people who will be affected are the law abiding sensible drinkers who prefer to buy their alcohol from off-licences and supermarkets. As usual with this type of legislation, it is the majority who suffer for the minority’s actions” – Steve Wood, Westhoughton
