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David Cameron supports crackdown on cheap alcohol
Thu 12 Aug 2010
Efforts to stop licensed premises selling cut-price alcohol in Greater Manchester have been backed by the prime minister.
Local authorities are currently looking at introducing a by-law that would ban retailers and pubs in the area from selling alcoholic drinks for under 50p per unit.
David Cameron said such a move would stop people from "pre-loading" before going on a night out.
However, the prime minister stated that existing competition rules could stop the proposed by-law coming into place.
This, he said, is because the rules would mean retailers in Greater Manchester would have to charge higher prices for alcohol than those in nearby areas.
Mr Cameron added that any such by-law would need to be looked at by the government in detail, but he promised it would be viewed "very sympathetically".
Restrictions on the price of alcohol in Britain have already been recommended by bodies such as the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.
Robert Botkai, a partner at Winckworth Sherwood Solicitors, commented: "The price of alcohol has been on the agenda for some time but tends to hit the brick wall called competition.
"Local pricing is unlikely to be the answer."
