Action needed to reverse Labour’s binge-drinking culture – says Laura

Alcohol-related violence and yob behaviour can be curbed through tough measures on alcohol

“We need to take real action against the increase in alcohol related crimes and anti-social behaviour in Thanet and Sandwich. That means reforming this Government’s licensing laws that have allowed cheaper alcohol to be available in more places than ever before,” said Laura Sandys, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for South Thanet and Sandwich.

The latest Home Office crime figures have revealed that across Thanet and Sandwich there were 2778 violent attacks last year. Based on Government surveys of crime victims, this suggests that 1306 of these attacks could have been alcohol-related. We also suffer from one of the highest number of alcohol related health conditions in the country.

David Cameron this week has announced a series of measures that we believe will support our commitment to combat anti-social dinking and alcohol fuelled violence. These include:

· Changing the law to stop the ‘loss-leading’ sale of alcohol by retailers.
· Rebalancing the duty on alcohol: reducing rates on low-alcohol beers and ciders, and increasing it on very high-strength products (the likes of Tennent’s Super) and on alcopops.
· Stronger powers and more discretion for elected local councils, and a greater say for local residents on licensing applications.
· Tougher penalties for premises which sell alcohol to under-age drinkers.

Labour’s licensing laws, which came into effect in 2005, have created a presumption in favour of alcohol licences being given out, and imposed tight restrictions on who can object to any licensing application.

The Police Federation has warned that the need to police town centres around the clock is making it harder to answer emergency calls elsewhere.


Laura said:
“Labour’s licensing laws are too lax. We don’t want a return to the old days where every pub shut at 11pm. But our local councils need greater powers to tackle the binge-drinking and violence that plague our town centres. The reckless sale of high-strength, bargain-basement alcohol is damaging health and fuelling violence.

“Conservatives believe that socially responsible adults should be able to have a night out in without fear of violence. Parents should be reassured that their children are not going to come to harm. Thanet and Sandwich’s community pubs should not be tarred with the same brush as irresponsible ‘vertical drinking’ bars selling booze into the early hours. We need to make our town centres feel safe at night once again.”