HEALTH bosses in South Cheshire insist the Government must do more to tackle the problems of cheap booze.

Central and Eastern Cheshire’s director of public health is urging politicians to halt the sale of cut-price alcohol.

Dr Heather Grimbaldeston and 18 other public health directors from across the North West have welcomed the introduction of the mandatory code of practice on the sale of alcohol but want to see more action on cut price sales.

The public health directors want legislation to introduce a minimum price per unit for alcohol of 50p.

Heather Grimbaldeston, director of public health for Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust said: “We would like to see a similar drive on tackling the sale of cheap booze as we did for smoking in public places. “Our estimates show that nearly 88,000 people in central and eastern Cheshire are drinking at levels hazardous to their health and the number of deaths, hospital admissions and attendances at A&E is rising.

"The NHS in central and eastern Cheshire spends around £30m a year on alcohol related harm.

“There is also the wider impact on a local community caused by anti-social behaviour.

"What we want to see is much more action on preventing excessive drinking. "The Government can play its part through legislation and but people also need to take much more personal responsibility."