‘Don’t sink plans to fight binge culture’

Sep 19 2009 by Helen Rae, The Journal

A NORTH East alcohol office is urging the Government not to delay plans to tackle binge drinking.

Measures to curb binge drinking top a list of regulations to be shelved in the latest U-turn forced on Labour by the economic downturn.

In a letter sent by Business Secretary Lord Mandelson to members of the Sub Committee on Better Regulation of the National Economic Council, he singles out the “mandatory code on alcohol” as a particular candidate for delay.

Earlier this year Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced he would introduce a mandatory code for the sale of alcohol, banning cut-price promotions such as “drink all you can for a fiver.”

Mr Brown told the Home Office conference on crime that the code was needed to help the police tackle the problem of binge drinking and bars and pubs whose customers cause trouble.

He said: “We are going to bring in a new mandatory code on the sale of alcohol.

“The code would tackle binge drinking, targeting the kind of promotions like ‘drink all you can for a fiver’ which can turn some town centres into no-go areas.”