Westminster Council makes progress with street drinking ban

Westminster City Council is waging a battle to reduce the number of 'street drinkers' that are present on it's streets. And since the introduction of the scheme in August of last year the publics' view of street drinkers being a problem has dropped 35%.

It has put into place such measures as a voluntary scheme for off licenses to remove super strength lagers and ciders from their shelves. The scheme has seen 25 premises in the area remove the targeted products such as Carlsberg Special Brew, Diamond White and Tennants Extra. The involved off-licenses include Tesco, Londis, Budgens, Thresher and Waitrose amongst others.

The WCC has also used other measures including the use of group dispersal zones formed under the Anti Social Act 2003 to prevent groups of intoxicated persons congregating in problem areas.

Reports suggest that since the measures have been in place that the number of police confrontations resulting in the confiscation of alcohol from street drinkers has drastically declined, as much as 50%.

Since the introduction of the scheme in August of last year the publics' view of street drinkers being a problem has dropped 35%.