David Cameron is to outlaw ultra-cheap alcohol to tackle binge-drinkers blighting Westcountry town centres.

The Prime Minister has bowed to pressure from a Devon MP to end “pocket money” supermarket deals to reduce the £22 billion a year cost of excessive drinking.

Dr Sarah Wollaston, a campaigner for minimum pricing, welcomed Mr Cameron’s recognition of the “scandal” of public drunkenness and alcohol abuse.

Minimum pricing is to form the centrepiece of the Government’s alcohol strategy, to be published formally next month, alongside “drunk tank” drying out cells.

Scotland is planning to press ahead with charging a minimum of 45p per unit, which would mean a pint of Cornish Tribute ale could be sold for no less than £1.08.

Introducing a floor price would effectively ban alcohol being sold at supermarkets for less than a bottle of water, which critics say is the cause of wanton behaviour.

Dr Wollaston, Conservative MP for Totnes, said: “This is not about stopping people drinking. It’s stopping people drinking to get drunk.”

Other initiatives likely to be in the strategy include “booze buses”, which pick up revellers and take them to police cells, and sending paramedics into nightclubs to ease the cost on the NHS.

But Westcountry MP and former Health Minister Ben Bradshaw led the criticism, arguing existing laws could clamp down on anti-social behaviour and moderate drinkers would face price rises.

Tourist resorts across the region have become increasingly frustrated with the alcohol-fuelled loutish behaviour of stag weekends and students celebrating exams.

Newquay attracted national headlines in the summer of 2009 when two teenagers died in falls from cliffs after nights out in the town.

Meeting doctors, nurses, paramedics and police yesterday, Mr Cameron said: “Every night, in town centres, hospitals and police stations across the country, people have to cope with the consequences of alcohol abuse, and the problem is getting worse.

“Over the last decade, we’ve seen a frightening growth in the number of people – many under age – who think it’s acceptable for people to get drunk in public in ways that wreck lives, spread fear and increase crime.

“This is one of the scandals of our society and I am determined to deal with it.”

Department for Health figures indicate alcohol abuse costs the NHS £2.7 billion a year. There were thought to be 200,000 hospital admissions in 2010/11 with alcohol as the primary factor.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley is against minimum pricing, and questions remain over whether it would be blocked by EU law.

But the Prime Minister has been convinced to act by mounting evidence over the impact of price on people’s behaviour.

If the rest of the country followed Scotland, a nine-unit bottle of wine would cost no less than £4.05 and a typical pint of lager £1.04.

Studies estimate that a 50p-per-unit rate would save 3,000 lives a year while only affecting a moderate drinker to the tune of £12 per year.

Proponents say it would bring an end to cheap super-strength lager and cider and dangerous “pre-loading” before leaving home for pubs and clubs.

Dr Wollaston, who says she is not a prohibitionist, contends people are fed up with drunks running amok in town centres, and it is time the balance of power was reversed.

She said: “I welcome the Prime Minister’s comments recognising that alcohol causes devastation across the country. I look forward to this being reflected in our alcohol strategy which is due to be published next month.”

But Exeter MP Mr Bradshaw said the Prime Minister’s remarks were “more PR rather than substance”.

He added: “There are plenty of laws already to deal with under-age drinking and rowdy behaviour – they need to be enforced.

“Alcohol consumption has actually fallen since 2004 and more rapidly since the economic downturn.

“Instead of penalising the majority of responsible drinkers by hiking up prices, we should use the laws we have and education and public health campaigns to tackle problem drinking.”