A YORK council boss today said the authority was determined to prevent alcohol making the lives of city people a misery, after a leading pub chain cut the price of its beer to 1991 levels.

Coun Andrew Waller, City of York Council's deputy leader, said the council would help strike a balance between having fun, and going too far.

He spoke out after JD Wetherspoon said Marston's Burton bitter would now cost £1.29 a pint in its pubs as part of a move to counter competition from supermarkets and boost profits.

Coun Waller said the authority was concerned about promotions which promoted a "happy hour drinking culture".

He urged York residents who were worried about forthcoming changes to the licensing laws to attend a public meeting at the Guildhall, on September 14, between 7pm and 9pm.

"We are very concerned about these promotions and the happy hour drinking culture that comes from these low prices," he said.

"It all results from some people who drink more than they can handle and that leads to civil disturbances. We are not about stopping people enjoying themselves and having fun, but there is an impact on those who live nearby and whose lives can affected by antisocial behaviour.

"It's about trying to find that balance and the public meeting we are holding will allow people to air their concerns.

"We also want to let people know what powers we do and don't have (when new licensing laws come into effect)."

Suzanne Baker, JD Wetherspoon commercial director, said: "The pub industry is in competition with ever-lower prices for beer in the supermarkets and we have acted accordingly."

The company reported a fall in profits yesterday after seeing its cut-price sales strategy come under pressure from supermarket rivals.

The group, which has 643 outlets, blamed increased competition and higher operating costs for the decline, which saw profits slip four per cent to £54.1 million in the year to July 25.

Updated: 09:23 Saturday, September 04, 2004