Action over cheap booze welcomed

A senior health chief has backed Government proposals to crackdown on cheap booze promotions by introducing a compulsory code.

Alan Higgins, lead Greater Manchester director of public health for alcohol issues, said: “Any new legislation that will help to reduce the impact on our communities of harmful or hazardous drinking is welcome.

“Greater Manchester has the worst health statistics in the country for alcohol. This includes lives lost, hospital admissions for alcohol-related harm, alcohol-related recorded crimes and incapacity benefit claims.

“Greater Manchester has a number of excellent partnership arrangements in place to tackle problems with alcohol.

“A number of services are being developed to ensure people are given the help they need.

“We are disappointed the Government did not go further and introduce a minimum price for a unit of alcohol of at least 50p.

“This would have targeted the sales of discounted alcohol sold by supermarkets.”

The introduction of a mandatory code of practice will regulate the information that is available to the public on the number of units that each drink contains, allowing drinkers to make sensible choices.

The Greater Manchester Alcohol Strategy Group, the Greater Manchester Public Health Network and Association of Greater Manchester Authorities Health Commission have also welcomed the proposals.