THE region's top powers - including council bosses and the Chief Constable - are calling for a minimum price on alcohol.
Leaders of the area's ten local authorities and Greater Manchester Police's top cop, Peter Fahy, have all given their backing to moves that would help improve the region's health and stamp out drink-fuelled crime.
The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) has strongly endorsed work being carried out by local health watchdogs to introduce a minimum price per unit of 50p, locally and nationally.
Mr Fahy told licencees in Manchester that alcohol had got 'cheaper, stronger and more available' and he would offer 'huge support' to AGMA who will now lobby the government for the introduction of a baseline price, similar to plans being considered in Scotland.
Mr Fahy told the city's Pub and Club Network that he blamed supermarkets for the rise in irresponsible drinking and antisocial behaviour and that in-store price promotions had undercut more traditional and responsible pub drinking.
He said: “Youngsters would have 'learned' to drink at their local working men's club, British Legion or pub and a lot of those have closed down because they've been undercut by supermarkets.
Street corners
“More young people are drinking on street corners, in parks and at home and coming into city centres with other young people and there's not always that same influence from older people around them."
The M.E.N revealed earlier this year how Manchester topped a table of areas in Britain most affected by alcohol, with drink set to kill 38,000 in the region over the next decade.
The Chief Constable said that a huge amount of police resources were taken up dealing with alcohol abuse - either on the streets or in homes.
He said 24-hour drinking had removed tensions at closing time but presented a 'relentless' challenge to the force in the shape of 24-hour policing.
Mr Fahy also cited price promotions in venues and staff selling to drunk people as concerns and told licensees they could expect a more robust response from officers.
He said: “On certain aspects we need to ramp it up. We've reminded our officers and particularly inspectors about the powers that are there to close premises and close them immediately if necessary.”
Coun Paul Murphy, chair of the Greater Manchester Police Authority, added: “We'll be looking at talking to government about the way in which cheap alcohol is available.”
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Black Flag (09/12/2009 at 11:32)
No, the reason young people aren't drinking in local pubs is the overly officious application of rules. In years gone by, people a year or two under the legal drinking age would have been tolerated in most pubs so long as they behaved, which helped to create a steadier introduction to drinking. Unfortunately, thanks to the mindless ID culture promoted by many in police forces and local authorities, that's less of a viable option for landlords.
Can these idiots not just acknowledge the damage they've done and go away?
Man made Climate Change is NONSENSE, Cheadle Hulme (09/12/2009 at 11:41)
A Singleton, Gorton (09/12/2009 at 11:42)
Where will the extra profit be going ?
The people you see on TV falling about the streets in the small hours after a Friday or Saturday night out are in the 18-25 age bracket. These people have the highest disposable income, and have probably just left a bar/club where they were paying £3-£4 per drink. A minimum price per unit will have no effect on their drinking habits.
The 'youngsters' drinking in parks are mostly underage. This could be tackled by more mystery shopping on off licences and stiffer penalties for those caught out, rather than the 'occupational hazard' fines that are currently dished out.
PW, Manchester (09/12/2009 at 12:06)
Severe penalties will deter most young people from this kind of behaviour.
Mark,Radcliffe. (09/12/2009 at 12:15)
JTC Formerley JimC (09/12/2009 at 12:19)
Why should the people who can handle a drink, who do not go around urinating on memorials, fighting, vomiting, be punished with price hikes. I am a resposible drinker who does not act irresponsibly when i have a drink whether it be 5,10,15 or 20 pints, and as for a minimum price of 50 pence per unit does that mean the price if my pint in my local is going to be £1.00 as opposed to the £2.00 i am being charged now. I do'nt think so.
Jiggerz, Mancunia (09/12/2009 at 12:27)
It doesn't take a genius to work out where the real problem lies, but it might be best if AGMA hire one to put it into easy words and pretty pictures for them.
Proper Sentences (09/12/2009 at 12:54)
MCFC1996 Manchester (09/12/2009 at 13:13)
hjk (09/12/2009 at 13:21)
When In Rome (09/12/2009 at 13:31)
Putting the price up and punishing other peaceful drinkers is not the answer, mending a broken society is, but where do you start ?
gortonian, gorton (09/12/2009 at 14:35)
Jay B, oldham (09/12/2009 at 15:55)
now they want to spoil it by getting the price of alcohol up.
when at the same time i read in the paper that tax on alcohol is at the highest its ever been at 70%
killjoys, thats the best way to describe them.
anyway the problems on the streets are mainly due to the police cutbacks in the town centres. we've had this up in oldham! only a third of the officers we had two or three years ago are not on patrol.
BLUE DIBBLE, ashton (09/12/2009 at 17:34)
Deejay, Bury (09/12/2009 at 17:41)
What caused this was the meddlesome hand-wringing which stopped children being disciplined, removed all responsibility for bad-parenting and "supported" all these feral kids to do what the bloody hell they pleased.
Why should I have to pay more to enjoy wine and spirits because a small minority can't behave and drink responsibly?
Fahy - try policing instead of politics; it is after all what you are paid for.
Bogey Roller, Manchester (09/12/2009 at 21:08)
Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire (10/12/2009 at 08:06)
Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (10/12/2009 at 08:34)
Like some have already said, the wrong uns will just take drugs before going out anyway.
Most of the older people just go out to socialise, they're not interested in smashing peoples faces in or trashing public houses, doesn't that speak volumes
Esso Blue, In Association with prometheus, Manchester (10/12/2009 at 12:55)
Proper Sentences (10/12/2009 at 13:06)
PW, Manchester (10/12/2009 at 13:19)
Jay B, oldham (10/12/2009 at 14:46)
its not the alcohol that causes it, its the upbringing that creates this problem.
i like a few beers every now and then, but i dont go out and commit crimes. i was brought up to know right from wrong.
its just the government, local councils, health chiefs and now police chiefs who are using it as a petty excuse for their years of their failures to society!
J.Hall, Tameside (10/12/2009 at 15:34)
vigorous campaign which he got through the House ofr Commons.
Sorry folks we are back to Jimmy Purnell the out of favour MP who reigns mainly outside his Constituency.
Tameside Council sycophantic Councillors and MP`s are simply birds of a feather objects who are the dross in our region.
Technobabble, Manchester (10/12/2009 at 23:22)
Cheaper?? It's gone up in price like everything else. It's called inflation.
Stronger?? It's not changed...just check the ABV on the side of the bottle. Beer is about 3.5% to 5%, cider 5 to 7% and wine about 11 or 12%, same as it ever was.
More available?? I can buy it in a pub, a club, an off licence or a supermarket. So no change there then.
But of course Mr Fahy is the same PC PC who while running Cheshire's Constabulary, after the disgusting murder of Gary Newlove called for a debate on raising the age of buying alcohol to 21. As if the real reason for that crime was a bit too much booze, and not the total lack of the police and courts to keep degenerate scumbags locked up in prison, where the ringleader had been until 24 hours before kicking Mr Newlove to death.
Bet you the touted minimum 50p per unit just ends up as yet another tax. And the AGMA and it's ilk will engage in a back-slapping exercise as the saviours of society.
sugar n spice, manchester (12/12/2009 at 01:11)