Greater Manchester wants minimum price on alcohol

Greater Manchester wants to become the first region to introduce a minimum price on alcohol.

According to the Sunday Times​, council and NHS leaders across 10 boroughs are concerned about the cheap availability of drink in the area.

Some alcohol in the area costs as little as 14p a unit — much less than soft drinks. Under the proposals, a minimum price of 50p a unit would be set.

"Manchester boroughs are disproportionately affected by alcohol-related harm, which in turn affects life expectancy," Alan Higgins, director of public health for alcohol in Greater Manchester, told the paper.

"The Greater Manchester Public Health Network is currently discussing the positive influences that introducing a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol could have on people, improving their quality of life and saving taxpayers' money by cutting NHS and criminal justice costs."

However, setting a minimum price is currently considered to be against competition law.