Make drink cost four times the price, say police

The price of alcoholic drinks must be almost quadrupled to curb binge drinking, one of the country's most senior police officers said today.

Mike Craik, the Association of Chief Police Officers' national spokesman on licensing, called for each unit of alcohol to cost a minimum of 80p.

The Government's Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson proposed a figure of 50p earlier this year.

Speaking at the Westminster Food and Nutrition Forum on Alcohol, MrCraik said he also wanted a complete ban on alcohol advertising.

Under his recommended price structure, a can of 4% beer could not be sold for less than £1.40, and a bottle of 11% wine would have to be priced at more than £6.60.