Retailers are not to blame for the growing disorder in town centres that is being fuelled by binge-drinking, the Association of Chief Police Officers’ top licensing expert said this week.
Metropolitan Police Service commander Chris Allison, who is responsible for policing the City of Westminster as well as taking the lead on licensing matters for ACPO, warned the relaxation of licensing laws would result in “more alcohol and more drunk people”.
“In some areas city centres are no-go areas. The licensed trade has to accept its responsibilities. It goes beyond the front door,” he said.
But when pressed by The Grocer he admitted there was no hard evidence to show that the off-trade contributed to anti-social behaviour in the streets. The primary concern was with the on-trade, he said.
“There is anecdotal evidence that some people drink in their homes before they go out and that some congregate around stores. However, the big problem is with vertical bars,” he said. These are the high volume, high drinking establishments that are a common fixture on the country’s high streets.
Speaking at a Westminster Diet & Health Forum national seminar at Labour’s Millbank HQ, Allison said such venues concentrated in town and city centres meant “too many people drinking too much alcohol in too small an area”.
Both government and the on-trade have tried to switch the focus of the war against binge drinking to the off-trade in recent months. Earlier this year ministers at the Institute for Public Policy Research warned the off-trade that it had to show it took the issue seriously or face more legislation (The Grocer, May 29 p12) and the trade is set to respond.
Drinks giant Diageo is close to announcing a pilot scheme with a major supermarket chain to extend the flagship Manchester City Centre Safe scheme into the off-trade.
“We are spreading best practice from this to the off-trade,” Diageo government affairs director Tim Rycroft said.
Diageo and Bacardi-Martini are submitting their response to Ofcom’s draft TV advertising rules this week. The consultation period ends on September 24.
Siân Harrington
Metropolitan Police Service commander Chris Allison, who is responsible for policing the City of Westminster as well as taking the lead on licensing matters for ACPO, warned the relaxation of licensing laws would result in “more alcohol and more drunk people”.
“In some areas city centres are no-go areas. The licensed trade has to accept its responsibilities. It goes beyond the front door,” he said.
But when pressed by The Grocer he admitted there was no hard evidence to show that the off-trade contributed to anti-social behaviour in the streets. The primary concern was with the on-trade, he said.
“There is anecdotal evidence that some people drink in their homes before they go out and that some congregate around stores. However, the big problem is with vertical bars,” he said. These are the high volume, high drinking establishments that are a common fixture on the country’s high streets.
Speaking at a Westminster Diet & Health Forum national seminar at Labour’s Millbank HQ, Allison said such venues concentrated in town and city centres meant “too many people drinking too much alcohol in too small an area”.
Both government and the on-trade have tried to switch the focus of the war against binge drinking to the off-trade in recent months. Earlier this year ministers at the Institute for Public Policy Research warned the off-trade that it had to show it took the issue seriously or face more legislation (The Grocer, May 29 p12) and the trade is set to respond.
Drinks giant Diageo is close to announcing a pilot scheme with a major supermarket chain to extend the flagship Manchester City Centre Safe scheme into the off-trade.
“We are spreading best practice from this to the off-trade,” Diageo government affairs director Tim Rycroft said.
Siân Harrington
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