Cheers! Government gives £10,000 to tackle Reading's drink problem

Published 24 Jul 2012 17:15 5 Comments

READING has today been awarded £10,000 by Government to tackle problem drinking and related anti-social behaviour.

The borough is one of 10 local authority areas to receive the funding - aimed at testing innovative ideas to tackle the issues.

The Department for Communities and Local Government wants the money to be used for grassroots projects bringing together the police, community groups, youth centres, local authorities, retailers and hospitals.

Baroness Newlove, the Government's champion for active, safer communities, said: "I am convinced that the solution to underage and binge drinking and the crime and anti-social behaviour that comes in its wake can only be found when everyone, those affected and those paid to stamp it out, come together with total resolve to tackle it head-on.

"It's not about huge amounts of money either, some of the best most effective approaches involve pooling resources, sharing information and improving existing communications.

"These ten areas have impressed me with a local plan involving community activists, police, health workers and the retail trade and I want other communities facing similar problems to learn from their innovative example.

"For too long, a small minority has impacted adversely on our happiness, health and security.

"We have to change society's tolerance to this unacceptable behaviour and the fight-back will be sown in these grassroots partnerships.

"Their success will be helped by the range of community powers available to them through new Government legislation and I shall be mentoring them and encouraging them throughout."

The funding announcement follows the launch of an initiative led by the Community Alcohol Partnership in Caversham.

The partnership scheme - which includes Highdown School in Emmer Green and traders - is aimed at tackling underage alcohol sales and hot-spot areas of drink-related anti-social behaviour.

It will include regular police patrols of known trouble spots, training for shop workers and a non-punative test purchasing event.

A similar scheme was previously piloted in Tilehurst and led to the test purchase failure rate falling from 33% to 0%.

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 24 Jul 12

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  dickemery
  Unregistered User
  Jul 25, 08:53
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  its certainly didnt help when the so called wisemen brought out new rule like drinking time 24/7 they in their wisedom thought it would give the consumer more time so they didnt rush drinking at closing time which use to be 11pm but now they can drink all nite no wonder we have a youth binge problem walking thru the town centre on a weekend you can see the problems the brewery company also have a responsiblity in not serving already drunk kids
  
  Recommend?   Yes 6     No 0

• 

  NotJohn
  Unregistered User
  Jul 25, 10:26
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  Faster and more effective enforcement of the current rules would be a good start
  
  Recommend?   Yes 1     No 0

• 

  Bushes Bernal
  Unregistered User
  Jul 25, 10:30
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  Shutting all Wetherpoon's establishments in the town centre would be a good start. They offer the cheapest prices and longest opening hours for Liver disease!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 3     No 1

• 

  Reading Elvis Lives
  Unregistered User
  Jul 25, 13:19
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  Move CIRDIC into the town centre where the countless users who openly drink all day outside it (right next to the "no alcohol" signs) may actually be prevented from doing so. Hardly a good example to be setting for the youngsters at the school a few yards down the road who have to witness them puking and urinating in the street on their way back into town after "fuelling up" at the CIRDIC.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 1     No 1

• 

  Mister Dog
  Unregistered User
  Aug 3, 13:37
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  Anyone found to create burden on the NHS through their own drunken foolishness should be brought back to sit soberly in A&E reception on a Friday or Saturday night. Maybe that'll make them think twice before getting smashed.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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