'I am ashamed of the drink-punch-smash-vomit culture'

A police chief who has called for rowdy pubs to be closed down has backed Government plans for the drinks industry to pay towards the cost of policing. Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police Steve Green said he felt that he had been “personally listened to”. Mr Green has taken an aggressive stance on binge drinking in the past, even calling for new powers to close troublesome pubs and clubs for a week or a month at a time. Ministers yesterday stopped short of a compulsory up-front levy on pubs and clubs under the new 24-hour licensing plans. Instead, disorderly premises in new “Alcohol Disorder Zones” will be given a “yellow card” warning and allowed a minimum of eight weeks to clean up their act. If they fail to cut drunkenness, all the premises in the zone will be forced to pay towards policing, street cleaning and NHS costs – with refusal leading to possible closure.

Mr Green said: “I welcome what they have done. I personally feel listened to. This is a positive incentive for the industry to behave more responsibly within a clear legal framework.”
He added: “I am ashamed of the drink-punch-smash-vomit culture which has spread like an ugly acne on the face of our once proud towns and cities. I am ashamed that we have been too weak to curb the excesses of generations of young people.
“What a miserable state of affairs. I have been dealing with the scourge of drunkenness for nearly 30 years. The police service has become the mop-and-bucket of a sick culture.”

The Government proposals drew a furious reaction from the drinks industry. The chairman of the 600-pub JD Wetherspoon chain called Home Office ministers “morons” and claimed the plans were “last minute chaos”.
Tim Martin said: “The morons in the Home Office thought it would be sexy to go for 24-hour licensing. It was never an idea which emerged from pubs.
“To me, this all seems like last-minute chaos.”
“Our argument was that it’s wrong to transfer business into the hands of politicians.
“We feel it will give rise to extra cost and regulation for pubs.”

In another new move, yobs who repeatedly commit drink-related offences could be banned from their favourite town centre pubs and night-spots for weeks. Drinking Banning Orders will be imposed on drunken thugs who have been handed three on-the-spot fines or convictions for drink-related offences. Children who attempt to buy alcohol will get on-the-spot fines, as will bar staff who serve drunks, ministers announced.

David Barrett and Laura Elston
22 January 2005

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