Councils should ban irresponsible cheap drinks promotions by setting minimum prices for alcohol, MPs said last night.

In a report on anti-social behaviour, the home affairs committee said pubs and clubs should be forced to make compulsory payments to fund policing in areas hit by alcohol-fuelled rowdiness.

"We recommend...that local authorities consider seriously the benefits of such a scheme, implemented through licence conditions and used in areas characterised by high levels of disorder," the MPs said.

The committee concluded that the crime wave linked to binge drinking was costing the country £20.1bn.