£1m fund to tackle drinking problem

The Government’s Champion for Active Safer Communities, whose husband Garry was kicked to death by thugs outside their Warrington home in 2007, said: “I am sick of the harm caused by those young people who put themselves and others at risk from illegal drinking.

“The crime and anti-social behaviour that comes in its wake is a terrible blight on this country.

“It destroys the quality of life of innocent people and in the process sucks up huge amounts of public funding to repair the damage done to people and places.”

The money will go to 10 communities based on models of grassroots projects already delivering for their neighbourhoods.

Newquay Safe Partnership in Cornwall was cited as an outstanding example, bringing together local councils, police, health workers, the safeguarding children’s board, businesses, tourist chiefs, town planners, and residents to share information and act.

In the past two years the Cornish resort has seen an average fall of almost 30 per cent in recorded anti-social and rowdy behaviour.

It has clamped down on fake IDs, prosecuted proxy buyers and targeted campaigns at youngsters urging responsibility.

Baroness Newlove, chairwoman of Community Alcohol Partnerships, added: “We need a new drinking culture in this country.

“I want to see responsible drinking, so we can rid our streets of drunken violence and intimidation.”

The Baroness, who was made a peer in July 2010, made the announcement as she published her latest report Building Safe, Active Communities: Strong Foundations by Local People.

She has travelled extensively across the country throughout the past two years meeting local people in their communities to learn from their experience and gather examples of their work.