Crime slashed in blitz on under-age drinkers

by Claire Hu A wristband scheme aimed at combating under-age drinking in pubs and clubs has seen a 50% reduction in town-centre disorder. The project, which was trialled in Ripley, Derbyshire, encouraged hosts to ask customers under 21 for ID on Friday and Saturday nights and then offer them a wristband giving automatic entry to other premises for the rest of the evening. Police say town-centre crime during pub opening hours dropped 50% during the four weeks of the scheme between 14 November and 6 December, compared to the previous month. Licensing officer Mick Baker said the joint initiative between the Pubwatch and the police could now be extended in the next few weeks to other areas, includ-ing Long Eaton and Ilkeston. "It came about because of the problems brought about by under-age drinkers, both locally and nationally," Baker said. "We were getting idiots who were drinking too much and causing fights and disturbances." He said the troublemakers had stayed out of town-centre pubs because they knew they would be asked for identification. "We were trying to get licensees to challenge everyone who looked under-age, and get through to customers that they should expect to be challenged. It made the town a much safer environment to drink on Friday and Saturday nights, and kept out the younger element." He said taking part in the project would help police and councils look favourably upon pubs, against increasing concerns about under-age drinking.