HMG publish their (hastily drafted?) consultation on Drinking Responsibly.

Drinking Responsibly – The Governments Proposals – Download

HMG issued proposals for consultation on 21/1/05; the consultation period expires on 28/2/05. The full detail of the proposals can be found on the DCMS web site but we set out below a summary of some of the main points:

The proposals are driven by a belief that there is a need to achieve a “fundamental change in attitude so that binge drinking and underage drinking are no longer regarded as socially acceptable because of the problems which can follow in their wake” with the aim not of managing the disorder associated with excessive drinking, but “eradicating it”.

The Paper includes a summary of the range of measures already in place to help address the position including the new range of measures within the Licensing Act 2003

Alcohol Disorder Zones (ADZ) – the Paper proposes a new concept of an ADZ; such zones would cover licensed premises in an area agreed by the LA and the police where there was strong evidence of alcohol related disorder having reached clearly unacceptable levels. Where a ADZ is proposed premises would be given a limited period to jointly address the issues identified – proposed at 8 weeks – following which if they failed to do they would be required to contribute towards the cost of policing AND other local costs of dealing with that disorder.

Zones would only be designated following a perceived failure – following warning – to address the identified issues.
The hope is that a formal order will on be required in exceptional cases following a failure to act

The order might be made jointly by a senior police officer and the LA or on application to a magistrate (views requested); HMG proposes that there should be a right of appeal, but that any court process should be “expeditious”.

The order should be short term (not defined) and should not be used for long term management of disorder. How should withdrawal be achieved is one of the questions posed as how the costs be apportioned – flat rate or rate banding like the proposed licence fees.

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