Two bars in Newcastle agree £1.25 minimum unit price as licence condition

Two bars in Newcastle have agreed a condition on their premises licences requiring them to sell alcohol at a minimum price of £1.25 per unit.

The amount is almost three times the proposed 45p per unit price that is the subject of a government consultation.

Newcastle City Council said the move was designed to maintain standards in Grey Street, its premier street, and had been backed by the operators of the two bars, Decantus and the Grey St Café Bar and Grill.

The authority added that the minimum prices would apply at all times during which alcohol may be supplied under the premises licences.

There will also be no specific trading hours/evenings when alcohol is discounted below the minimum agreed price and used as a vehicle to attract customers.

Cllr Henri Murison, cabinet member for quality of life at Newcastle City Council, said: “Newcastle is leading the way nationally on this issue and many other councils like us with a world class night life and destination to manage will follow in our footsteps.

“Government should take our lead by doing what they can to be tougher on the supermarkets, who have caused the crisis of low cost binge drinking. Only they can tackle this problem."