British prime minister David Cameron will impose a minimum price for alcohol in England and Wales that will see a standard bottle of spirits cost at least £10.40 pounds (€12.48) and a pint of beer at least 80 pence (€0.96) in a bid to improve health and curb crime and disorder.
Home secretary Theresa May told the House of Commons in London today that consultations will be held with interested groups about the price to be set.
Mr Cameron's office said the target is about 40 pence per 10 millilitres of alcohol and estimated that would cost the average drinker between £21 and £23 a year more than now.
The semi-autonomous Scottish Parliament is already legislating to set a minimum price there.
"We all know there is a significant minority in this country who drink dangerously and who cause disproportionate harm," Ms May said.
"Drunken brawls and disorder have made many town centres no-go areas for law-abiding citizens."
She said there's a "need to deal with the dangerous drinkers, crack down on the irresponsible businesses and stem the tide of cheap alcohol."
Tesco, the UK's largest supermarket chain, was yesterday selling a 700ml bottle of "value whisky" for £9.97 and a bottle of "value vodka" for £8.72. Both would have to cost between £10.40 and £11.20 under the government's plans.
"When beer is cheaper than water, it's just too easy for people to get drunk on cheap alcohol," Mr Cameron said in a statement.
"This isn't about stopping responsible drinking, adding burdens on business or some new kind of stealth tax, it's about fast immediate action where universal change is needed."
Ms May said there were almost 1 million violent crimes and 1.2 million hospital admissions involving alcohol in 2010-11, costing the taxpayer £21 billion.
She said consultations will also be held on a ban on multi-buy price promotions in stores.
Other measures to crack down on binge-drinking will include a levy on late-night pub licenses to cover policing costs and a doubling to £20,000 of the fine for those found persistently selling alcohol to children.
Diageo, the world's largest liquor company, described the minimum-pricing plan as "misguided" and said it would hit the poor.
"There is no credible evidence from anywhere in the world that it is an effective measure in reducing alcohol- related harm," Andrew Cowan, Diageo's country director for the UK, said.
Bloomberg