TIME looks likely to be called on “two for the price of one” drink offers at clubs and bars in Warrington town centre.
“All you can drink for £10” and “Ladies drink free” promotions will also be outlawed as part of a new package of measures announced by the Government.
A mandatory code of practice will be introduced to target the most irresponsible alcohol retail practices – and pubs and bars will be forced to provide minimum sized glasses for those who want them.
In addition, £4.5 million has been set aside for a new police crackdown on alcohol fuelled crime and disorder.
The moves were welcomed by the North West’s director of public health, Dr Ruth Hussey and Home Office regional deputy director Gail Porter.
Dr Hussey said: “These measures will be vitally important in helping to tackle the impacts of alcohol on public health and crime and disorder.
“Alcohol misuse in the North West costs the NHS around £400 million annually. Irresponsible promotions fuel the amount that people drink and it is right that these are tackled.”
Ms Porter added: “Some 73,000 crimes a year in the region – 50,000 of them violent- are linked to alcohol.”
She said surveys had shown that nearly 50 per cent of people avoided town centres at night because of drunken behaviour by others.
“The new measures are a welcome move, and they will provide people in the North West with enhanced protection from the effects of alcohol fuelled crime and disorder.”
In Warrington, 25.5 per cent of men and 12.8 per cent of women drink over the recommended weekly limit of 14 units for women and 21 units for men.
In addition, 52.2 per cent of men and 29.3 per cent of women in the 19-39 age group are binge drinkers.
The town has some of the highest rates of of crime attributable to alcohol in the North West.
In March 2006, Warrington launched a strategy to reduce alcohol consumption, alcohol related crime and health inequalities. But problems have persisted in the town centre with many people now reluctant to visit of an evening.
Six priority areas in the North West will benefit from additional funding to help tackle underage sales, confiscate alcohol from under 18s and run communications campaigns to tell people what action is being taken to successfully reduce alcohol related crime and disorder in their local area.
Perhaps surprisingly, although neighbouring Halton is one of the six areas, Warrington is not.
The funding will boost work already being done by police to tackle alcohol related crime and disorder.”
Regional public health specialist Brenda Fullard called for urgent attention to be paid to the availability of cheap alcohol in the North West.
She said: “In the North West it is possible in some supermarkets to buy alcohol more cheaply than water.
“We welcome the suggestion that there could be local powers to restrict the sale of very cheap alcohol and we will do everything we can in the region to ensure that action on very cheap alcohol is prioritised wherever problems occur.”
