Councillors in Barnsley are in talks with local police chiefs about introducing a by-law aimed at curbing binge-drinking. Such a measure would, in effect, introduce a minimum price for drinks, stopping such promotions as ‘Happy Hour’ where customers get two drinks for the price of one.
According to some experts, cheap drinks offers are a prime cause of binge-drinking and lead to anti-social behaviour and violence.
If such a by-law is introduced in Barnsley, it is thought that many other towns and cities may consider following suit. A similar fixed minimum price system is already in operation throughout much of Scotland in an attempt to curb violence. Nowhere else in Europe has such a policy so far.