Alcohol pricing consultation

Wirral Council and its partners – including public health agencies – are looking at ways to reduce the negative impact of excessive alcohol consumption on individuals, local communities and public services.

One option being considered is to introduce a minimum price per unit of alcohol. The Council has carried out a consultation to seek the views of local people, businesses, partner organisations and community and voluntary groups on the introduction of a minimum price. The consultation took place between 29th November 2010 and 18th February 2011.

The results of the consultation were published in a report to the meeting of the Council's Licensing, Health & Safety and General Purposes Committee on 21st March 2011. Click here to view the report (Page 41, Agenda item 7)

Following the consultation it was decided that Members of the Council's Licensing, Health & Safety and General Purposes Committee would not support the proposals to seek a local by-law to enforce a minimum price for alcohol. Full details are available in the minutes of the Committee Meeting on 21st March 2011 (Page 4, Item 43).

Why was the Council considering introducing a mimumum price?
There is a growing consensus that more needs to be done to tackle the negative effects of excess alcohol consumption. One option being considered is to introduce a minimum price per unit of alcohol.

A minimum price per unit of 50p or more would reduce consumption of very cheap alcohol among ‘problem’ and younger drinkers and reduce alcohol-related harm among moderate drinkers and poorer communities. It would also relieve the pressure on public services and provide a boost to many hard-pressed local pubs.

The minimum price would apply to ‘on’ sales from pubs, clubs and restaurants and to ‘off’ sales from supermarkets and off licences etc.

It is considered by some that a minimum price would benefit the ‘on’ trade by reducing the difference in price between ‘on’ and ‘off’ sales.

If agreed, the minimum price would be enforced through local bye-laws across parts of the North West.

Further information is available in the report Consultation - Minimum Price for Alcohol which was presented to the Council's Licensing Health and Safety and General Purposes Committee on 13th September 2010.