Binge-drinking violence 'creating no-go areas'

DRINK-fuelled violence is creating "no-go areas" across England and Wales, a Government-funded poll revealed yesterday.

One person in every four said they avoided parts of their local area because of crime and disorder linked to alcohol abuse.

The results of the study were released as the Government confirmed measures aimed at tackling alcohol misuse will come into force before the General Election.

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Speed drinking games, volume drinks promotions and pouring alcohol directly into drinkers' mouths will be banned from April, Home Secretary Alan Johnson announced.

The Tories also laid out their plans to tackle problem drinking with a pledge to "take back" town centres and roll back so-called "24-hour drinking".

Alcopops and super-strength beer and cider would face higher levies, they said, and bars and clubs wanting late night licences would be hit with a tax to pay for policing.

The poll revealed widespread support for a ban on drinks promotions in supermarkets and off licences in problem areas.

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Half of those questioned said bulk buy and other offers should be prohibited where disorder is rife.

Ministers have dropped plans to allow councils to ban happy hours in pubs and bulk offers from alcohol retailers in problem zones.

Mr Grayling said: "It's time we took back control of our town and city centres on a Friday and Saturday night, and turned them back into places where people can have a good night out without the fear of being caught up in a culture of binge drinking and anti-social behaviour.

"We need to scrap the Government's late-night licensing regime, give local people back powers over the number of licensed premises in their areas, and introduce charges for late-night licences to pay for better policing.

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"We can't go on with the binge-drinking culture that has built up under Labour."

Mr Johnson said the ban on games, and measures to force pubs to provide tap water for free would come into force in April and help deal with "irresponsible" retailers.

From October, bars will be forced to offer smaller drink sizes, he said.

The poll, carried out by Ipsos-Mori, revealed widespread ignorance of rules that allow bars to offer spirits in either 25ml or 35ml measures. More than half of those questioned (52 per cent) said they thought a single measure was the same everywhere.

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The British Beer and Pub Association said the measures were unbalanced because they did not target drinks sold through supermarkets.

Concerns have been raised about drinkers "pre-loading" with booze before a night out.

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said 70 per cent of alcohol was sold through supermarkets.

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