The government has unveiled a new plan to reduce alcohol-related crime.

Ministers estimate that alcohol misuse costs the UK £20 billion a year through crime and disorder, illness and lost productivity in the workplace.

Under the strategy launched yesterday, proposals include greater use of the controversial "fixed penalty fines" for anti-social behaviour and of exclusion orders banning persistent offenders from certain pubs or even town centres.

Ministers will seek to encourage the drinks industry to contribute to a new fund financing schemes aimed at addressing alcohol misuse both nationally and locally, and to package their products in safer materials than glass bottles, including the "sensible drinking" message alongside information about unit content.

Tony Blair said: "It is vital that individuals can make informed and responsible decisions about their own levels of alcohol consumption. Everyone needs to be able to balance their rights to enjoy a drink with the potential risks to their own - and others' - health and wellbeing."

Alcohol charities, however, accused the government of watering down the measures in the face of lobbying from the drinks industry.