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| All-you-can-drink offers face ban | All-you-can-drink offers face ban |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| "All-you-can-drink" promotions could be banned and compulsory identity checks introduced under government proposals to crack down on alcohol abuse. | |
| If the plans for England and Wales are approved, bars will also not be able to hold speed-drinking competitions. | |
| Retailers or publicans in breach of the code could be fined or jailed. | Retailers or publicans in breach of the code could be fined or jailed. |
| Home Secretary Alan Johnson said there was a "duty to act". The Tories said they would give councils more powers to tackle "problem" bars and clubs. | |
| It is estimated alcohol abuse in England and Wales kills 40,000 people and costs the economy £55bn every year. | It is estimated alcohol abuse in England and Wales kills 40,000 people and costs the economy £55bn every year. |
| 'Irresponsible' | |
| The Home Office says drink-related crime and disorder costs the UK an estimated £8bn to £13bn a year. | |
| If the government's proposals receive parliamentary approval, they will form a new mandatory code for retailers. | |
| The key points of the parties' proposals are: | |
| LABOUR | |
| CONSERVATIVES | |
| Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he had not ruled out the possibility of using pricing measures to make alcohol less easily available, but added that "we have to be very careful". | |
| "We don't want to ensure that people... on good incomes can just carry on as normal but responsible drinkers on low incomes are hit." | |
| But Mr Johnson said a minority of outlets ran irresponsible promotions which "fuel the excessive drinking that leads to alcohol-related crime and disorder". | |
| CASE STUDY Barbara Vowles, manager of Chambers, Darlington We have a normal pub and a nightclub. We did have a 69p drink promotion on Thursday nights but we have put it up to £1 for some bottles of beer, vodka and mixer. | CASE STUDY Barbara Vowles, manager of Chambers, Darlington We have a normal pub and a nightclub. We did have a 69p drink promotion on Thursday nights but we have put it up to £1 for some bottles of beer, vodka and mixer. |
| I did it to make a stand, to highlight the issue. Other places in Darlington were doing it and we had to fight for customers. | I did it to make a stand, to highlight the issue. Other places in Darlington were doing it and we had to fight for customers. |
| I have been in the pub trade for 32 years and it is getting harder. We are competing with the supermarkets - most of us buy our alcohol from the supermarkets so we are still making money despite the cheap prices. | I have been in the pub trade for 32 years and it is getting harder. We are competing with the supermarkets - most of us buy our alcohol from the supermarkets so we are still making money despite the cheap prices. |
| Pubs are closing down all the time - the recession and the smoking ban have not helped. | Pubs are closing down all the time - the recession and the smoking ban have not helped. |
| I would be in favour of a minimum price for alcohol as it would create a level playing field and people would then come into a pub for the atmosphere or music, not just because it sold the cheapest booze. Read your comments | I would be in favour of a minimum price for alcohol as it would create a level playing field and people would then come into a pub for the atmosphere or music, not just because it sold the cheapest booze. Read your comments |
| "These practices have a real impact on society, not to mention the lives of those who just want to enjoy a good night out," he said. | "These practices have a real impact on society, not to mention the lives of those who just want to enjoy a good night out," he said. |
| "The government and the industry have a duty to act - this mandatory code will allow us to take action against an issue which affects us all." | "The government and the industry have a duty to act - this mandatory code will allow us to take action against an issue which affects us all." |
| For the Conservatives, shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said councils would be allowed to set higher licence costs for pubs and other premises which were causing problems late at night. | |
| This money would "be re-invested in better policing". | |
| Mr Grayling said: "It is far better to do that than have central government dictating. One of the reasons we got the problems we have now is that central government said it knew best." | |
| He added that he was "concerned" about the strength of many drinks on the market and that there would be a higher duty placed on these. | |
| This, Mr Grayling said, would encourage manufacturers to change, although some "niche products", such as some specialist ciders made by small breweries, would not be affected. | |
| "The problem with minimum pricing is that it affects people who are in no way involved in anti-social behaviour," he said. | "The problem with minimum pricing is that it affects people who are in no way involved in anti-social behaviour," he said. |
| "It puts up the price of a bottle of sherry, a bottle of wine, so responsible drinkers will end up paying more." | "It puts up the price of a bottle of sherry, a bottle of wine, so responsible drinkers will end up paying more." |
| Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary Norman Lamb said last week that the "best way to prevent alcohol misuse is to put an end to alcohol being sold at pocket-money prices". | Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary Norman Lamb said last week that the "best way to prevent alcohol misuse is to put an end to alcohol being sold at pocket-money prices". |
| In Scotland, the government is pushing for a minimum price for alcohol to tackle drink-related problems. | In Scotland, the government is pushing for a minimum price for alcohol to tackle drink-related problems. |
| Laws requiring young people to prove their age were introduced in the country last year. | Laws requiring young people to prove their age were introduced in the country last year. |
| 'Just tinkering' | 'Just tinkering' |
| The British Beer and Pub Association said it had been asking for legislation to crack down on irresponsible promotions in both pubs and supermarkets. | The British Beer and Pub Association said it had been asking for legislation to crack down on irresponsible promotions in both pubs and supermarkets. |
| But spokesman Mark Hastings told the BBC: "What with 70% of all alcohol sold through supermarkets and widespread concern about their promotional prices, the measures announced by the Home Office seem lopsided and unbalanced." | But spokesman Mark Hastings told the BBC: "What with 70% of all alcohol sold through supermarkets and widespread concern about their promotional prices, the measures announced by the Home Office seem lopsided and unbalanced." |
| The British Medical Association said it supported tougher rules on promotions, adding: "Alcohol misuse leads to serious ill-health, premature death and is linked to violence and anti-social behaviour. It also costs the NHS millions of pounds every year." | The British Medical Association said it supported tougher rules on promotions, adding: "Alcohol misuse leads to serious ill-health, premature death and is linked to violence and anti-social behaviour. It also costs the NHS millions of pounds every year." |
| Don Shenker, chief executive of campaign group Alcohol Concern, told the BBC the proposals were "long overdue" but "did not go far enough". | Don Shenker, chief executive of campaign group Alcohol Concern, told the BBC the proposals were "long overdue" but "did not go far enough". |
| People could still "pre-load" by getting alcohol from supermarkets before heading to the pub, and the proposals would not stop pubs and clubs selling a pint of lager for under £1. | People could still "pre-load" by getting alcohol from supermarkets before heading to the pub, and the proposals would not stop pubs and clubs selling a pint of lager for under £1. |
| Mr Shenker said: "It is just tinkering with the price issue rather than decisive action. We need a minimum price per unit of alcohol which will affect pubs, clubs, off-licences and supermarkets." | Mr Shenker said: "It is just tinkering with the price issue rather than decisive action. We need a minimum price per unit of alcohol which will affect pubs, clubs, off-licences and supermarkets." |
| Earlier this month, the Commons health select committee called for minimum pricing, a rise in duty on spirits and white cider and stricter regulation of advertising. | Earlier this month, the Commons health select committee called for minimum pricing, a rise in duty on spirits and white cider and stricter regulation of advertising. |
| It estimated a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol would prevent 3,000 deaths a year. | It estimated a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol would prevent 3,000 deaths a year. |