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Cheap booze ban plan revealed
Reporter: Laura Wild
Date online: 22 November 2010
A by-law that would see the sale of cheap booze banned across Greater Manchester has been revealed.
The plans would see a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol.
The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, (AMGA) which represents 10 local authorities including Rochdale Borough Council, will meet on Friday to consider a progress report on the proposals.
The report includes the first draft of the bylaw. It reads: “No individual, business, company or temporary licence holder based within the area, whether classified as off licence or on licence shall offer the public sale of alcohol at any time without exception at a price less than fifty pence, or equivalent value of Euros at the time of sale, per unit of alcohol.”
The report indicates that a minimum unit price of 50p in Greater Manchester would reduce alcohol-related hospital admissions by 4,482 per annum.
The Deputy Leader of Rochdale Council, Councillor Ashley Dearnley said the move is a ‘good idea.’
He said: “More reasonable charges are a sensible measure to take.
“My only slight concern is with Rochdale being so close with the border of Yorkshire that business people and those with off licenses may be in a situation where they are being penalised because people will go and buy cheap alcohol from over the border.
“But, I do think this is aimed at people selling alcohol at ridiculously low prices with a complete disregard of the consequences and I support it.”
Comments
No doubt this by-law will not affect members of the council or its officers, just those manual workers who like a drink for social events. Prices up for those who drink responsibly.
Have Your Say
How about some one showing the general public what a minimum of 50p per unit adds up too. My calculations are as follows: 500ml can of beer at 5% ABV calculates to a minimum price of £1.25 per can. Alternatively, 300ml bottle at 3.5ABV would have 1.16 units with a minimum price of 58p per bottle. Bottle of spirit 70cl at 40% would be at aminimum price of £14 per bottle. I feel my calculations may be somewhere in the region of minimum prices.
By James Allan Whitehead @ 22/11/2010 18:03:01