The prime minister has launched a new government strategy aimed at reducing alcohol-related crime.

It is estimated 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 on Monday, 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.

In addition, new "code of good conduct" schemes will be established and run by partnerships of the drinks industry, the police and licensing panels, to be led by local authorities, with an aim to cracking down on underage drinking and alcohol related crime and health problems.

"Millions of us enjoy drinking alcohol with few if any ill effects," said Tony Blair.

"Indeed, moderate drinking can bring some health benefits. But increasingly, alcohol misuse by a small minority has caused problems: crime and anti-social behaviour in town and city centres, and harm to health as a result of binge and chronic drinking.

"This strategy aims to target alcohol-related harm and its causes without interfering with the pleasure enjoyed by the millions of people who drink responsibly. I strongly welcome it and the government has accepted all its conclusions.

"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."

Concerns

The announcement comes amid reports that David Blunkett wants to get tough on alcohol-related social disorder.

The home secretary has written a private letter to the prime minister warning him that the problem of drink-related social disorder has got worse in British towns and cities.

Blunkett said the skirmishes associated with late night drinking were no longer confined to the weekend and presses the case for a new crackdown.

He said the government should raise "serious concerns" about the trend in drink-related violence.

The move comes amid growing fears that Britain is becoming a nation of binge-drinkers.

The home secretary's letter, leaked to the Sunday Times, will add weight to calls for a renewed crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

And it could halt government plans to relax drinking laws - a move which could have led to round the clock pub opening.

In his letter Blunkett says the "situation at night in our towns and city centres raises serious concerns about the control of alcohol-related crime and disorder".

Blunkett is said to be pressing for new powers to set the price of alcohol in a bid to stop pubs offering drinks at prices which result in binge drinking.

He is also said to be considering moves which could result in licensed premises being forces to pay some of the additional policing costs necessary to clamp down on drink-related disorder.

But reports suggest Downing Street and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which has responsibility for licensing laws, are standing firm against the home secretary.