Wirral Council has decided against setting a minimum price for alcohol sold in the borough.

It follows consultation with the public to look at ways to reduce problems caused by excessive drinking.

Back in September, astonishing revelations about problems stemming from cheap booze were put before the Wirral licensing authority.

Members of the licensing committee were told imposing a minimum UK pricing strategy for alcohol of 50p per unit could prevent 3,400 death annually,100,000 hospital admissions, 300,000 days off sick and 46,000 crimes.

In addition, Government chief medical officer of health Sir Liam Donaldson predicted that total benefits could be as high as £1bn a year.

In a special message, he told Wirral Council: "Cheap alcohol is killing people and undermining our way of life.

"Introducing a minimum price would significantly affect those who drink at high-risk levels, helping them to reduce their own drinking."

Councillor Sue Taylor, licensing committee chairman, said in September: "I am keen we overhaul the licensing system to tackle some of the alcohol-related issues we are seeing in all parts of the borough."

But her committee has now voted against introducing new byelaws.

Council leader Cllr Jeff Green said: "We've had some really good responses to the consultation and it's clear that we must strike the right balance between tackling abuse of alcohol, especially by the under-aged, without hitting the responsible, moderate drinker.

"As the Government has since proposed action to prevent the heavy discounting of alcohol, the committee unanimously agreed that it would be premature to introduce a local by-law at this stage.

"Supermarkets and clubs should also be aware of their social responsibility and stop using cheap alcohol as a 'loss leader'.

"Meanwhile, Wirral Council is introducing additional, permanent staff to tackle the places that are selling alcohol to the under-aged."

According to Department of Health statistics, one-in-five young people aged between 11 and 15 drank more than 600 units of alcohol a year.

"Harmful" drinkers bought 15 times more booze than a moderate drinker and spent ten times as much on alcohol as those who drank moderately.

And 64% of cheap off-trade alcohol was bought by those who over-indulge.