New powers for councils could curb cheap booze sales

Councils could introduce a bylaw stopping cheap alcohol being sold in their area - possibly through minimum pricing - under new government plans.

The coalition wants to give councils the power to revoke old bylaws and introduces new ones, local government minister Grant Shapps announced last week.

Under the plans, councils could create bylaws without permission from Whitehall, but would have to consult with residents first before introducing a new law.

The announcement gives hope to authorities in Greater Manchester aiming to introduce minimum pricing locally.

Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme, Shapps cited cheap alcohol as an example of where the proposals might apply. "If they do want additional bylaws, for example on preventing cheaper alcohol being sold, they will have to consult the local population," he said.

In Manchester, a bylaw is currently being dawn up which would allow a minimum price to be introduced. Last month David Cameron said he was "very supportive" of the idea and would look at it "sympathetically".

Mike Jones of the Greater Manchester Public Health Network, the body drawing up the bylaw, welcomed the plans, but said he did not think that it would benefit. "We are operating not as a council but as more than one borough so we would still have to get permission from the Secretary of State as it stands," he said.

But Neil McCann, a licensing lawyer at Joelson Wilson, urged councils to act with caution if the plans were introduced. "In theory it is wonderful, but councils have to be careful not to breach competition rules if this law gets passed," he said. "The Licensing Act warns not to attach conditions for fixed prices, so any proposed law would be subject to a legal test."