Drinks industry may pay police

THE drinks industry in Britain may be asked to contribute to the costs of policing city centres as part of a drive against binge drinking, Prime Minister Tony Blair signalled yesterday.

Mr Blair warned such drinking was in danger of becoming “the new British disease”. He said more action was needed by the police and the alcohol industry to tackle an epidemic of alcohol-fuelled rowdiness, which has seen post-pub violence soar in town and city centres across the country.

Speaking to an industry-organised seminar on the National Alcohol Strategy in London, Mr Blair said: “Millions of people drink alcohol responsibly every day and no-one wants to stop the pleasure.