Now Blackpool joins price-fixing initiative
by Tony Halstead Blackpool is set to be the latest British town to introduce a drinks price-fixing scheme in a bid to stamp out drunken hooliganism. Police and bar operators are working on arrangements which will see a ban on "irresponsible" drinks promotions and a £1.50 lowest price limit introduced. "We want to end the £10 entry and drink free all night type of arrangement which simply encourages people to drink too much alcohol," said a police spokesman. "There is pressure on pubs and bars to remain competitive, which means many try to undercut one another. "So far there do not appear to be any pubs and clubs which are refusing to support the initiative," he added. But the town's licensed victuallers association says it is reserving judgement until more details of the scheme emerge. "We want to know a lot more about how this will operate as there are suggestions that voluntary pricing schemes like this may be illegal," said association secretary John Farrell. If the Blackpool scheme goes ahead, it will become the third town in England to introduce a scheme the seaside town Bournemouth and Middlesbrough already have schemes. Meanwhile, a Halifax newspaper has attacked cheap drinks promotions at pubs in the town as part of a campaign aimed at tackling drunken violence. The Halifax Evening Courier's "Win Back the Streets" campaign, launched last week, urges licensees and police chiefs to meet and agree a "booze truce", putting a stop to "dirt cheap" drinks pricing. Police blame the spiralling violence on the streets on the emergence of cheap, all-inclusive drinks offers at town centre pubs. Their figures show a 440% increase in violent crime in Halifax town in four years.
