THE region of Greater Manchester is planning to become the first in England to impose a minimum price for the alcohol sold in its supermarkets, pubs and off-licences in an attempt to tackle binge drinking.

Council and National Health Service leaders across the 10 boroughs say they need to raise the price of drinks because the region has higher than average rates of deaths and hospital admissions from alcohol consumption.

They say alcohol can be bought in Greater Manchester for less than the price of soft drinks. Some alcohol costs as little as 14p per unit. Under the proposals the minimum price for a unit of alcohol would be set at 50p, meaning six cans of lager could not be sold for less than about £6 and a two-litre bottle of cider for less than £5.50. A bottle of wine would have a minimum price of about £4.50 and a 700ml bottle of whisky would be at least £14.

Health bosses are following the lead of the Scottish executive, which has announced plans to introduce a minimum price for alcohol. The move is also supported by Sir Liam Donaldson, the chief medical officer, the British Medical Association and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice), the NHS body that issues health guidelines.

The move by Greater Manchester will increase the pressure on Gordon Brown to follow medical advice and raise the price of alcohol. He has so far resisted such measures.

Greater Manchester believes the harm caused by alcohol abuse justifies its actions, because estimates for harmful and binge drinking in the Greater Manchester area are significantly worse than the average for England.

Between one fifth and one quarter of Manchester residents are thought to be hazardous drinkers, according to a report by Liverpool John Moores University.

Alan Higgins, director of public health for alcohol in Greater Manchester, said: “Manchester boroughs are disproportionately affected by alcohol-related harm, which in turn affects life expectancy.

“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.”

Earlier this year The Sunday Times revealed the case of 22-year-old Gary Reinbach, who died of cirrhosis of the liver in July after drinking heavily from the age of 13.

Reinbach, from Dagenham, Essex, did not qualify for a liver transplant because he was too ill to prove he could remain sober for months outside hospital. His mother, Madeline Hanshaw, 44, blamed cheap alcohol for the loss of her son: “I think it is too easy for young people to get alcohol. You can buy a bottle of whisky for about £7.”

Tomorrow NHS bosses and council leaders in Greater Manchester will discuss the legislation they can use. Research has shown that setting a 50p minimum price per unit of alcohol would prevent 3,393 deaths and 97,900 hospital admissions every year.

Explore Health News

• Swine flu

Times Recommends

• Postmen: We bind the nation together
• Tewkesbury: when the memories flood back
• Cast Offs actress: I’m happy that my face fits