Blears to battle against British binge drinking
Home Office minister Hazel Blears will today unveil the Government’s strategy on tackling binge drinking among British youth.
The Government has found a close link between alcohol misuse or binge drinking and anti-social behaviour.
Ms Blears will launch an interim report on her department’s initial assessment on how to manage alcohol misuse in England and Wales.
Ms Blears has responsibility for the roll out of the Government’s alcohol harm reduction strategy.
It comes as the Government backs a more liberal approach to pub licensing, including further extensions to opening hours.
Labour’s promotion of 24-hour licenses has been tied with a crackdown on anti-social street drinking.
Police will soon have the power to confiscate unopened bottle and cans of alcohol on Britain’s towns and cities.
Ms Blears said previously: “We know that violent crime is often fuelled by alcohol – the British Crime Survey shows that 47% of violent crimes are committed by offenders under the influence of alcohol.
“Several new measures, such as fixed penalty notices for being drunk and disorderly and police powers to shut down noisy bars and clubs, have been introduced to help minimise this kind of violence.”
The implementation of the Licensing Act will give police extra powers to control loutish behaviour.
