CALLS to end cheap drinks promotions in a bid to tackle binge drinking have met with a mixed response in west Wiltshire.

The Government is considering allowing local councils to set minimum prices for alcoholic drinks in pubs and clubs to try and curb booze-fuelled crime and anti-social behaviour.

The plans have been welcomed by police but the pub industry fear small independent businesses would be dealt a hammer blow. Bill Austin, chairman of Trowbridge Pub Watch, said: "Commercial business should not be restricted in the promotions they run as long as they are sensible and not something like drink as much as you like for £10.

"If you have minimum prices it will be the major companies who will be able to make the profits because they have the purchasing power that small traders do not."

Police have already warned new 24-hour licensing laws could stretch resources to the limit and said any measures to try and combat the binge-drinking culture would be welcome.

Inspector Glynn Hookings of Trowbridge police said: "An alternative that will help curb binge drinking has to be a positive way forward.

"Incidences of alcohol related crime are on the increase. The number of people we deal with who have been drinking to excess is worrying.

"People only have a certain amount of money they are prepared to spend when they go out and if the amount of alcohol they can buy for that amount is reduced hopefully that will have an impact."

Experts suggest binge-drinking costs the country about £20bn a year and MPs want the pub industry to pay more towards policing alcohol-fuelled disorder.

In Trowbridge town centre most pubs have offers on drinks but none have yet moved towards the sort of 'drink all you want' offers available in larger towns and cities.

The Courthouse, Castle Street, runs a happy hour between 4- 9pm Sunday-Friday, with reduced prices on selected drinks.

Landlady Helen Glanville said: "A drink all you want promotion is not something we would ever do, it would be just asking for trouble.

"I think minimum drink prices would be a good idea because it would make the streets a lot easier at the end of the night."