UK: Manchester attempts to impose minimum price of alcohol

[7zark7]

[size=+1]Manchester attempts to impose minimum price of alcohol[/size]

A minimum price for alcohol could be imposed on nearly four million consumers in the North West of England, if a local authority plan is successful.

The ten local authorities in and around Manchester hope to pass a by-law that would set a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol, in an attempt to end to the cheap deals blamed for drink-fuelled disorder and health problems.

Link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/h...empts-to-impose-minimum-price-of-alcohol.html

 

[alphabetalactone]

can they legally do that?

 

[G-G]

can they legally do that?

I'm pretty sure that's irrelevant. 8)

Will they do it? I don't think so because wouldn't all the alcohol suppliers kinda like lobby against it? Don't they lose sales because of this?

 

[Bromden]

remeber the new rules on this forum mean the whole article is no longer allowed to be shown in thread, click the link and it will answer your questions, plus the rest of the articl.

heres what you were after anyway:

'However, drinks companies and retailers were appalled by the idea and gave warning that any attempt to impose a minimum price via a by-law would be illegal, as it would contravene national and European competition rules.

Mark Hastings, at the British Beer and Pub Association, said: "There is no by-law in the country which allows a local authority to set the price of anything, be it alcohol or fresh fruit.

"There is no way they will be allowed to do this."

Gavin Partington at the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, which represents many alcohol companies, said: “There is a substantial body of legal opinion that suggests minimum unit pricing of alcohol is illegal under European law. Some campaigners may wish otherwise but local authorities have no legal powers to introduce minimum unit pricing and Government ministers have rejected the idea anyway. '

 

[muzzard]

I'm pretty sure that's irrelevant.

pretty sure that is relevant. i cant see this happening mainly for the legality issues.

 

[alphabetalactone]

pretty sure that is relevant. i cant see this happening mainly for the legality issues.

exactly, something like this would have to go through parliment.

 

[SilverFeniks]

Must be modeled after Russia's new minimum vodka price:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8436863.stm

 

[muzzard]

exactly, something like this would have to go through parliment.

yeah, not only do local athorities have no power to make or enforce such a rule, due it being out of their scope or ultra vires. even if it was passed by parliament, it would estimate that it would be in conflict with eu law on competition.