THE city's top police officer wants happy hours at pubs and clubs to be scrapped in the war on binge drinking.

His call yesterday was backed by a Newport nightclub owner who said: "We should get rid of them."

The plea came as Prime Minister Tony Blair wages war on a drinking culture that sees thousands of revellers going out to get drunk every weekend.

Blair described binge drinking as "the new British disease" and called on the drinks industry to pay towards the cost of late-night police in town and city centres.

Newport's Chief Superintendent Kevin Price warned boozers of the dangers.

He said: "I would urge everyone who decides to drink alcohol to be aware of the health implications and the impact they can have on themselves and others.

"We have dealt with numerous incidents where people are so intoxicated they are unable to find their way home and they leave themselves open to attack in that vulnerable state."

Supt Price said tempers flare when people are drunk.

"Binge drinkers tend to act more aggressively to what would normally be a very minor issue," he said. "This can lead to a potentially explosive environment."

Officers are working closely with landlords to ensure a responsible attitude when selling alcohol.

"We want to see the continued support to remove happy hours and nights that encourage greater consumption of alcohol," he said.

Youngsters aged between 12 and 16 were also binge drinking and putting themselves at risk of assault and alcohol poisoning.

Government figures released last month showed violent crime rose sharply over the last three months of 2003. Binge drinking was largely to blame.

Alcohol accounted for about half of all violent crime.

* See today's Argus for full story