A North East charity are urging the Government to act now and introduce a minimum unit price on alcohol - to save lives across the region

Charity Balance North East are backing calls for a minimum unit price to be introduced in the U.K.

Yesterday, Sargent Mick Urwin from Durham Police argued in front of a government committee that cheap booze is having a significant impact on the force, as people are getting drunk before they hit the town.

Also on the panel was Rosanna O'Connor, director of Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco at Public Health England (PHE) - she said: “Around 4.4% of the population are drinking just under a third of the alcohol consumed in this country. That's around 2 million drinking just over 30% of the alcohol.''

Ms O'Connor said the majority of the group were drinking very cheap, high-strength alcohol such as cider. A three-litre bottle of cider containing 22.5 units of alcohol can be bought for as little as £3.60.

If the 50p minimum unit price were to be introduced, the costs would jump to £11. Ms O'Connor said: “The result would be a significant impact on a small group of people. That's why it's such a targeted policy for such great health gains.''

She was joined on the joint Health Committee and Home Affairs Committee by Professor Nick Sheron of the University of Southampton, who also runs the liver unit at Southampton General Hospital.

He said: “My patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis, their average consumption is 120 units a week. That's the median, the mean is higher - it's 150.”

“A typical Frosty Jack's drinker would be drinking about 16 litres a week and they would be paying about £20 for it - now that would go up three-fold, they'd be paying about £20 for it.''

“For people drinking 14 units per week - the recommended weekly limit - the cost would be an extra £1.26 per week for someone drinking wine or spirits, £2 for a beer drinker and £3 for a cider drinker" he said.

Dr Sheron said the financial impact of the cap on a moderate drinker could be as little as 61p per month or £7 per year.

Those supporting the minimum unit price say it only targets a small group of problem drinkers, such as street drinkers, underage drinkers and young people ‘pre-loading’ before a night out.

Unlike a tax, it will not impact alcohol price in pubs and clubs, which they say could have a negative impact on the night-time economy