Pubs and shops face cheap drinks clampdown

By Peter Griffiths

LONDON (Reuters) - Pubs and supermarkets face tighter restrictions on selling cheap alcohol under plans to tackle binge-drinking, violent crime and poor health, the government said on Wednesday.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said a government-commissioned review of alcohol prices suggested a clampdown on discounting would help cut crime, illness and absenteeism from work.

Pubs and retailers said the changes will do little to reduce problem drinking, but would penalise millions of families already struggling to meet higher household bills as Britain enters a recession.

"I have a duty to crack down on irresponsible promotions that can fuel excessive drinking and lead people into crime and disorder," Smith said in a statement. "That's why I will impose new standards on the alcohol industry."

Smith wants to ban landlords from running promotions such as cheap drinks for women or "all you can drink for 10 pounds" nights. Supermarkets and off licences would be stopped from offering discounts on drinks that are reliant on people buying large amounts.

Staff selling alcohol would have to be properly trained, outlets would be forced to display the alcohol content of drinks and they would be required to offer customers smaller glasses.

More money would be spent on making sure shopkeepers don't sell alcohol to underage drinkers and on confiscating drinks from under-18s.

The new rules are contained in a mandatory code of conduct that is expected to come into force in summer 2009 after a period of consultation.