Cheshire Constabulary has praised recommend- ations for tighter alcohol licensing laws in the run up to Christmas.
Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said: “Cheshire Constabulary has made its views known to various Government departments, public agencies and members of the licensing trade and is delighted the Home Affairs Selects Committee agrees with its views and is calling for greater controls over the sale and supply of alcohol.”
In Cheshire, Operation ArcAngel (derived from the acronym for Alcohol Related Crime – ARC) started two years ago and Mr Shewan believes it has been a success.
He said: “During this time, we have set out what we believe will make a difference to the “Booze Britain Culture” we regularly see portrayed on our TVs and on our streets.”
He believes there needs to be a clear standard for those who profit from alcohol and those who drink it.
He added: “We are continuing to introduce voluntary agreements with the trade which restrict what alcohol can be bought, by whom and at what price.
“However every weekend alcohol is sold cheaply allowing young people to engage in “pre-loading” – getting drunk at home cheaply before hitting the bars and clubs in our towns and city.
“This puts people at risk and is encouraged by low prices and special offers available everywhere as alcohol continues to be used as the front line of competition between retailers.
“Most retailers are putting processes in place which are ensuring the chances of alcohol being sold to under-age youngsters is minimised.
“However, responsible retailing goes beyond the point of sale and retailers must look to how their products are being used and understand their part in the consequences of alcohol-fuelled disorder.
“Cheshire Police is working to reduce fear and increase safety but this comes at a significant cost.”
Five years ago the estimated cost to the British taxpayer of alcohol related crime and disorder was £7.3billion.
Young people are drinking at an earlier age and in larger, stronger amounts.
Their bodies and minds are not fully developed and cannot cope with the effects of alcohol.
Mr Shewan said: “We are seeing more aggressive and anti-social behaviour occurring and more young people are turning up at accident and emergency units because they have put themselves at risk through the amount they have drunk.
“The costs of dealing with all of the consequences of alcohol-related harm, “fitting in, stopping boredom and being sociable”, will be borne by the each and every one of us as tax rises will be needed to deal with the problem.
“I believe there is clear evidence current licensing legislation has not addressed the problem of the binge drinking culture which is endemic among communities in Cheshire and the rest of the country.
“The recommendations contained in this report, introducing standards of behaviour (as we have done under ArcAngel in Cheshire), and addressing “proxy purchasing” would give us a chance to change this.
Mr Shewan believes the biggest obstacles to ArcAngel are teenage peer pressure and illegal sale of alcohol to under age children.
He said: “Alcohol is being sold, and more importantly supplied, by parents, friends and strangers in quantities to young people which puts their health and well-being at risk.
“At a recent consultation young people said they drink because it makes them more aggressive or “hard” and that they have to drink to fit in and everyone does it because it breaks down barriers.”
