Rebecca Hubbard
Posted: Friday, August 13, 2010 11:02 am

The Prime Minister has publicly backed local authority plans to impose minimum prices on alcohol. The group of councils from Greater Manchester have banded together to say that they want the right to choose their own base level for the price of alcoholic drinks.

David Cameron said the proposals would be looked at “very sympathetically” by the new coalition government.

The PM told the Manchester Evening News: "I think if what you're trying to do is stop supermarkets from selling 20 tins of Stella for a fiver that's what we've got to go after.

“Where I want to try and help is ending the deep discounting on alcohol; people going and 'pre-loading', having bought from a supermarket where they were attracted by a price designed to bring them into the store."

Drinks suppliers earlier this month dismissed the group's plans as a “publicity stunt", as they believe that any move to change the price of alcohol would contravene competition law in Europe.

Andrew Lansley, health secretary, has voiced doubts over the proposals as well, as he claims that they would punish low-income families.

Cameron’s comments are the latest in his attack on alcohol consumption. He very publicly criticised supermarkets’ cut-price drinks deals during his election campaign.