Drunken revellers risk £80 fine
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Drunken Christmas and New Year yobs are being targeted in a tough Government crackdown on binge-drinking launched today.
Drunken Christmas and New Year yobs are being targeted in a tough Government crackdown on binge-drinking launched today.
Police now have the power to issue on-the-spot fines for buying or selling alcohol to under-18s, and the penalty for drunk and disorderly behaviour has been increased from £50 to £80.
In addition, temporary medical units have been established in Cardiff and Swansea, South Wales, to help emergency services deal with those who have drunk too much.
It is hoped the units, which will operate tonight, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, will take the strain off emergency services.
Police from more than 180 areas across England and Wales will have the power to issue the fines until January 3. The summer scheme led to more than 5,600 arrests.
Licensing Minister Richard Caborn said: "The message is stark and simple - if you brawl in the street, urinate in a doorway or are sick in the kerb, you could be slapped with an £80 fine.
"We're not messing around - we want decent, law-abiding people to be able to get home safely from their Christmas and New Year's parties."
Paul Evans, head of Police Standards Unit, said officers would focus on areas where there had previously been problems.
"I think it's very, very important that we target areas that are selling (alcohol) irresponsibly and those individuals who are irresponsibly consuming," he told BBC Breakfast.
Home Office Minister Hazel Blears said: "We know that the concerted blitz to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence and sales to under-18s over the summer worked.
"The levels of serious violence decreased in the 92 policing areas that took part and many in the alcohol industry were prompted to act more responsibly, abandoning 'all you can drink'-type promotions and reviewing their policies on not serving alcohol to under-18s.
"But we are not complacent - we know there are still widespread and serious problems."
She added: "Christmas is a time when people should be able to have a few drinks and enjoy themselves, but that should not be an excuse for violent and anti-social behaviour by a minority, spoiling enjoyment for everyone else."
A GP's surgery will be open in Swansea's city centre and an emergency room is being set up at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to treat drunken revellers.
Rapid response paramedics will deal with 999 calls from the pub and club areas of the cities, leaving ambulances free for serious incidents.
Those with minor injuries will be treated at the temporary medical centres rather than being taken to the A&E departments.
George Murphy, from the Welsh Ambulance Service, told the BBC that the mobile units were "an exciting new initiative which will help to provide quicker and more immediate treatment for people on the streets".
Police visited more than 30,500 premises, of which 4% were found to have committed an offence in the summer fine campaign.
Of 1,864 sting operations on targeted establishments, 45% of on licence premises and 31% of off licences were found to be selling to under-18s.
Police issued 4,081 fixed penalty notices, made 5,658 arrests and confiscated alcohol from 3,292 under-18s.
The Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said big pubs and clubs should use their "enormous profits" to help pay for the crackdown.
"Many of these measures will reassure the public over binge drinking, but the cost to police in time and money is enormous," he said.
"It is time the Government imposed a levy on big pubs and clubs to help fund town centre policing.
"Why should taxpayers foot the bill for their enormous profits this Christmas?"
Mark Hastings, of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: "The industry fully supports the prosecution of troublemakers and those licensees who encourage irresponsible drinking.
"The disruption they cause is unacceptable to the vast majority of well-run pubs and the many millions of people out enjoying themselves over a social drink.
"We will work closely with the police, helping them use the powers they have to tackle the issue."