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Alcoholic Drinks: Sales

Answer

No specific assessment has been made on the effect on antisocial behaviour of levels of sales of alcohol from off-licenses, however the Government are aware that alcohol is a factor in some instances of antisocial behaviour and a number of actions have been taken to address the issue. These include the provisions in the Policing and Crime Bill which will introduce a mandatory code for all alcohol retailers, and will give licensing authorities new powers to clamp down on specific problems in their areas. We have also given £3 million to Crime and Disorder Reduction partnerships (CDRPs) in order to undertake multi-agency enforcement activities on specific alcohol-related problems. We have made available a further £1.5 million to our top 50 priority areas which have the highest levels of alcohol-related crime and disorder and public concern about drunk or rowdy behaviour. This money has been used to tackle under age sales, to confiscate alcohol from under 18s and to run communications campaigns to tell local people what action is being taken in their area.A number of antisocial behaviour tools and powers are also available which include written warnings, home visits, Acceptable Behaviour Contracts, Parenting Orders/Contracts, Crack house and premises closure orders, antisocial behaviour orders and dispersal zones. We have recently just finished a series of 13 regional Alcohol Enforcement Skills Development training workshops for front-line practitioners covering the use of these tools and powers and those available under the Licensing Act. In addition, we are legislating to improve these powers, including increasing the fine for anyone not obeying an instruction to stop drinking in a Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) area, making it easier for the Police to disperse antisocial drinkers, and introducing a new offence of persistent underage possession. We are also encouraging wider use of Acceptable Behaviour Contracts and have recently extended the alcohol arrest referral pilots to include under 18s. We are working across Government to take these actions forward.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

492 c263W; 271601

Session

2008-09

Subjects

Alcoholic drinks Anti-social behaviour

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk