CHESHIRE Police do not believe minimum pricing of alcohol will solve the problems of binge drinking and anti-social behaviour of the type which have made Warrington town centre a no-go area for many people of an evening.
What they want to see is greater control over the sale and supply of alcohol and a ban on irresponsible promotions and the sale of cheap alcohol in supermarkets.
Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan has issued a statement in response to the recent announcement by Liam Donaldson, the chief medical officer for England, on minimum prices.
Mr Shewan said Cheshire police have been working tirelessly to address the crime and disorder issues relating to alcohol in local communities.
He said: “Officers are continually being called to respond to incidents of aggressive anti-social behaviour linked to alcohol and we have talked with various Government departments, public agencies and members of the licensing trade about the problems officers face.
“In Cheshire we want to see a range of measures introduced to address the issues alcohol is causing in our communities. The introduction of minimum pricing alone will not produce the change in our society that is needed.
“We want to see greater controls over the sale and supply of alcohol and an end to irresponsible promotions and the sale of alcohol as loss leaders by the big supermarkets.
“In addition, we want the views of the people who have spoken up – the medical professionals dealing with the problems, the front line officers dealing with the disorder and local people who suffer the nuisance – to count when decisions are made.
“The burden alcohol is placing on the public sector is overwhelming. We can not solve this problem on our own. Police officers, doctors, nurses and other public sector workers can only do so much.
“We need parents to set standards for their children, communities to say what is not acceptable behaviour and adults to lead by example. We want to see retailers putting quality of life before profits thus allowing every individual the right to enjoy alcohol socially, in a community environment where they do not feel intimated by other people’s anti-social behaviour.”
