Stoke-on-Trent introduces street drinking ban

Stoke-on-Trent has become the latest city to ban street drinking, in an effort to reduce anti-social behaviour in the potteries town. The restriction covers the Hanley area of the city centre, and is targeted mainly at groups who gather in the streets to drink. Anyone who refuses to stop drinking alcohol when asked by a police officer, or who fails to hand over any opened container of alcohol, can now be arrested and fined up to £500.

The city's community safety manager, Tony Kehoe, said: "The aim of the initiative is to provide a safer city centre and part of that is to foster the pavement cafe culture, so we're working with the street pavement cafes and their owners to make it clear as regards what is their area."

Lee Spencer, manager of Evergreens pub in Hanley, said: "There is a big problem in Hanley with hardened drinkers in the streets, usually drinking cans of superstrength lager. It's mainly a daytime problem, and it would certainly make a difference to trade if it could be stopped."

He added: "It's quite an ingrained culture, and I think it will be an uphill struggle to eliminate it completely.

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