Pubs to pay levy for alcohol disorder
Plans to recover costs for policing from pubs and bars where binge drinking leads to disorder have been put out for consultation by the Government.
Under the plans, premises that fail to tackle binge drinking will be given eight weeks to clean-up their act or be forced to contribute towards policing and other costs of dealing with alcohol-fuelled violence.
The measures are part of a determined effort to change the binge drinking culture amid growing concern among police and the medical profession over the relaxation of licensing laws.
Police will also be given powers to impose 24-hour banning orders on premises selling to underage drinkers, and individuals will be targeted through ‘Drinking Banning Orders’ excluding them from pubs and bars within a specified area for a fixed period of time.
Minors who attempt to purchase alcohol and staff who serve people who are drunk will be subject to fixed penalty notices.
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said: “The steps we are proposing today support the tough measures in the Licensing Act 2003. They send out a clear message – we will not tolerate the disorder and anti-social behaviour that blights our towns and city centres.
“We are proposing decisive action. I am confident the police, local authorities, and others will come on board with us in delivering it.”
Home Office Minister Hazel Blears added that the Government supported the alcohol industry’s attempts to tackle binge drinking by cutting down on irresponsible promotions, but said there was more to be done to tackle underage drinking.
On Thursday, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir John Stevens, warned that staffing levels would need to be reinforced in the early hours if 24-hour drinking came in.
Today chief police officers gave the Government’s proposals a thumbs up.
ACPO president Chris Fox said: “I am delighted that the evidence the police service put forward has been listened to. The proposals announced today for consultation are extremely positive, and when put alongside the Licensing Act, provide a solid set of measures to tackle the problems of alcohol fuelled crime and disorder.”
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten also welcomed the move. He said: “”At last Labour has stood up to the alcohol industry. The Government has dragged its feet on this issue since 1997 despite the clear link between alcohol and violent crime. Police across the country are stretched to breaking point on Friday and Saturday nights.”
But Conservative Shadow Home Secretary David Davis accused the Government of tinkering: “These hastily cobbled together proposals will not address binge drinking. They will just tinker with the problem after the event has got much worse. Simply making a pub pay a levy after eight weeks will not stop the problem of violence and drunkenness.”
