By Michael Passingham
http://youtu.be/I-bE8YfCA8c
Lincolnshire Police are setting up a scheme which will see the voluntary removal of beer, lager and cider with more than 6.5% alcohol by volume.
The campaign, which will be officially launched in the coming months, is designed to target so-called ‘street drinkers’ – people who are dependent on alcohol who get caught up in and cause anti-social behaviour.
There are four areas in Lincoln which are being specifically targeted by the yet unnamed campaign. St Mary’s Street, Beaumont Fee, St Martin’s Square and Corporation Street have all been recognised as having a problem with street drinking and other anti-social behaviour. Beaumont Fee alone had 145 reports of crime in 2012 alone.
Inspector Mark Garthwaite of Lincolnshire Police rejects any claims that there is a social element to cheap, strong beers: “There’s no socially-acceptable way to drink it,” he explained “One can will take you over the daily health limit for alcohol. There is no morally-positive way of saying ‘that’s why we sell it'”.
The Wine and Spirits Trade Association, who represents some off-licences, say that they welcome the plans, but also question whether blanket bans have the fully-desired effect.
The measures will start with a consultation process, with a dedicated officer visiting all houses in the target areas, talking to locals about what they feel the problems are.