Calling time on street drinking

Date published: 27 June 2007

Senior doctors want a national ban on drinking in the street to help defeat the binge-drinking culture.

Delegates at the British Medical Association’s annual conference debated the proposal among a raft of ideas to stop people abusing themselves with booze.

Restrictions on drinking in the street are already in place in some parts of the country, including areas of Rochdale, after councils were given powers in 2001 to designate public areas where it is an offence to consume alcohol.

But following growing concerns about the impact of binge drinking, the BMA motion calls for total national prohibition.

Doctors argue that drinking alcohol in the street sends the message that it is just a normal drink — but it can lead to people acting dangerously.

And they say a national ban will end confusion over which streets it is an offence to drink in and where there are no restrictions.