Ban on the Drinking of Alcohol in Public Places

Sign on display in public places banning drinking (87 Kb)

The ban is aimed to control the consumption of alcohol in public places in order to tackle alcohol related crime, disorder and nuisance as well as underage drinking.

The Criminal Justice Police Act 2001 (this is an external hyperlink) contains provisions specifically designed to address the problem of alcohol related crime. The Act allows local authorities to designate areas in which it will become an offence for any person to drink alcohol after being required by a police officer not to do so. The police will also have the power to confiscate and dispose of any alcohol and containers in the person's possession. It will be an arrestable offence to fail, without a reasonable excuse, to comply with the police officer's request.

The ban will give the Police the power to tackle the issue of nuisance, annoyance, disorder and damage that occurs. Fareham police are firmly of the opinion that a ban on the drinking of alcohol in the proposed designated area highlighted on the map below will help to address these problems.

The restriction on public drinking will not apply to premises or areas covered by a license allowing the consumption of alcohol, for example the premises of licensed public houses, clubs or restaurants etc. Further this will not stop people being able to consume alcohol at tables and chairs at the front of or in the grounds of pubs, restaurants etc as this would be within the curtilage of the licensed premises.

Fareham Borough Council has made two Orders.  The first (The Alcohol Consumption in Designated Public Places for the area of Fareham Town Centre and Adjacent Areas (No. 1) Order 2005) came into force on 1st March 2005 while the second (The Alcohol Consumption in Designated Public Places for the area of Salterns Quay Fareham and Adjacent Areas ( No.1) Order 2006) came into effect on 14th August 2006.  The effect of these orders is that the two areas highlighted (119 Kb) have been designated to control the drinking of alcohol in public places.

If you require clarification about what can and cannot be enforced please contact us on 01329 236100 or email us at antisocialbehaviour@fareham.gov.uk.