BOLTON’S public health chief have backed new calls for an increase in alcohol prices.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is calling for higher prices to be put on alcohol in a bid to combat Britain’s binge drinking culture.

It wants a minimum price of about 50p per unit of alcohol sold.

Jan Hutchinson, director of public health for Bolton’s Primary Care Trust, believes the move would have a positive impact on people’s health in the area.

She said: “A minimum price per unit would stop people just buying the cheapest drinks which are high in alcohol.

“It would be more difficult for people to drink in such large amounts.

“It would not so much affect pubs and bars, but more supermarket promotions where you can get a lot of alcohol for a little price.”

Earlier this year, the leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Cliff Morris, was campaigning for similar price increases in a bid to cut anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related injury in the town.

Tesco, which has stores across Bolton, supports the move to increase the cost per unit.

Last month, it took action, banning “below cost selling”, where supermarkets sell alcohol for less than manufacturing costs.

Professor Mike Kelly, the public health director of NICE, said: “It is clear that policy change is the best way to go about transforming the country’s unhealthy relationship with alcohol.”