Drinking to excess?

The government is to force pubs and clubs to pay for extra policing in trouble spots branded "alcohol disorder zones".

In new proposals announced on Friday, culture secretary Tessa Jowell moved to allay fears that the law to extend pub opening hours would lead to a rise in binge drinking in urban centres.

At a press conference she announced a government consultation on plans to hand police powers to designate special zones where drinking establishments would have to pay a levy towards the cost of policing drunken behaviour.

Pubs and clubs could pay up to £1,000 to secure their licence, and be subject to a further £1,000-a-year annual charge.

A sliding scale will be applied, to reflect the size and scale of Britain's diverse pub and club scene.

Jowell said the increases in the licence fees paid to local authorities would reduce concerns that council tax will have to go up.

But it will be for local councils to determine the details of the charge.

“I am giving local authorities the power to run licensing regimes in their own areas. They have the local knowledge, the know-how and are accountable to the local electorate. They should be in the driving seat," she said.

“These fees will give local authorities the tools to do the job. I now look to them to use their expertise to deliver a licensing regime that it is effective, fair and responsive to local needs."

Subject to parliamentary scrutiny, the new fee structure will have effect from February 7.

Police support

Police, who support the proposed levy, have told home secretary Charles Clarke that they need more resources to deal with the increase in public disorder related to alcohol.

Ministers still maintain that the change in the law will help combat public disorder caused by binge drinking.

The government has also announced it will introduce new measures to tackle problem drinkers - including measures to crack down on 'happy hour' promotions which lead to excessive drinking.

The Home Office also wants to introduce a ban on drinkers who find themselves in alcohol-related incidents three times - dubbed a "three strikes and you're out" rule.

Quick fix?

But minister Hazel Blears conceded there would be no quick fix to the problems associated with excessive drinking.

"This is a long-term cultural change here in this
country - we don't underestimate the problems," she said.

Disorderly pubs and clubs will also find themselves subject to an eight-week warning system, after which they could be forced to pay the costs of policing associated with binge drinking.

Ministers hope the new measures will be enough to combat fears surrounding plans to relax the licensing laws.

The government is pressing ahead with plans to introduce extended opening hours, although it claims the measure has more to do with permitting theatregoers to enjoy a drink after a show than allowing round-the-clock drinking binges.

Blears said the government wanted to adopt a voluntary-based approach to the problem of binge drinking - but warned that compulsion remained an option.

"We want to build on the voluntary approach if we can," she said.

"If it doesn't work... they could become an Alcohol Disorder Zone, and then if they get such a zone, the police who are trying to do their job will get a contribution towards the cost of what is occurring."