One of Britain's top cops has backed calls for a minimum price on alcohol to bring an end to cut price deals in the off-trade.
Speaking at the annual Best Bar None (BBN) conference in Durham, Association of Chief Police Officers lead on licensing Jon Stoddart said minimum prices would help address health problems and other issues fuelled by cheap off trade drink.
Stoddart, chief constable of Durham, told delegates an end to below cost pricing was the way forward in encouraging safe responsible consumption of alcohol.
He told the conference that cheap alcohol was a "big issue" causing social and health problems and put a major strain on the National Health Service.
"There is a consensus for imposing a minumum unit price charge for alcohol which would not impact on the on-trade but encourage safe responsible drinking," he said.
He was answering a question from Oldham Best Bar None co-ordinator Joe Curran who asked whether the Best Bar None Scheme could be extended to supermarkets.
"Can we drive Best Bar None to the off-trade to achieve the same effect the scheme has had on town and city pubs and bars?" he asked.
Profile
Curran called for a higher profile for Best Bar None and more visible promotion so people could learn more about its aims and objectives.
"People know what a three star sign outside a hotel means but very few know what Best Bar None stands for if they see the logo in a pub," he added.
The chief constable said, however, Best Bar None had done a terrific job since its formation and had helped make town and city centres safer places, particularly in his home city of Durham.
"It has shown what can be achived by partnership and co-operation and in some cases has helped regenerate town centre areas. I am a passionate believer in this partnership approach and Best Bar None has been a trailblazer.It needs to be adopted nationwide.
"Above all it needs to strike a balance between the needs of the community and the needs of licensees."