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

A breach of an order could lead to a fine of up to £20000 or up to 3/6 months imprisonment or both.

Drinking Banning Order (DBO) – having recited the offences and penalties available HMG propose extending fixed penalty notices for attempting to buy alcohol when under-age and for selling to a person when drunk. To target those who cause repeated disorder in towns and city centres by creating a new civil order, the DBO, which would allow for the exclusion from the area concerned of persons 16 or older who are responsible for alcohol related disorder.
Triggers for an Order might include mandatory consideration following a third or subsequent relevant conviction, or through application to the court by the police or LA following the issue of a third fixed penalty notice.

Views are requested as whether such should have a minimum/maximum term, how the area might be defined or how far it should extend and whether it should be limited to times of the day? Concerns have already been expressed as to ho the police could effectively enforce a DBO.
Alcohol should no longer be regarded as a mitigating factor in any offence.

Irresponsible promotions – the paper discourages such promotions such as “All you can drink for £x.99” or “Girls drink free”, but acknowledges the efforts the industry is voluntarily taking in this regard. No further measures are proposed, although it will be appreciated that such promotions if regarded as irresponsible, could lead to revocation/review of the licence relating to those premises.

The foregoing is intended as a limited summary of the proposals which have now been released for consultation.

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