Oldham tackles anti-social drinking at pubs and clubs

A BBC Panorama documentary will tonight show how one local council is tackling anti-social drinking at pubs and clubs.

The Truth About Happy Hour visits Oldham in Lancashire where the council has introduced a series of blanket conditions on the town’s 22 town centre licensed premises to counter a 200% rise in violent incidents.

Measures introduced include a post office-style queuing system set back from the bar, a limit of two drinks per person ordered at a time, six extra door staff, and two police officers paid for by the licensee.

“It’s about trying to get people to drink in moderation. We are trying to work with the law and we are trying to work with the licensees,” councillor Mark Alcock told the BBC.

Oldham is the first place in the UK to push for a minimum price for alcohol with those operations charging over 75p per unit (about £1.88 a pint) excluded from the conditions.

Most bars have reportedly accepted the new measures although price rises cannot be enforced due to competition law.

“There have been more than 50 serious assaults in Oldham this year and 12 alcohol related rapes over the last three years," said Richard Bilton, who reported on the BBC documentary.

“Oldham is a test case for how our towns can be reclaimed from weekend violence.”

Panorama: The Truth About Happy Hour is on BBC One, Monday 10 August at 8.30pm.

Mandatory code for pubs and bars could cost the industry £58m >>
 
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By Emma White

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