Guernsey LVA seeks hardline bans to curb binge drinking

by John Harrington Authorities in Guernsey are considering a ban on cheap drinks deals as part of its alcohol strategy for the island. But the Guernsey Licensed Victuallers Association (GLVA) wants to go further, possibly with a minimum pricing scheme and extra powers for the police to close rogue pubs for one week, all in a bid to curtail irresponsible practice. A report by Guernsey's Alcohol Strategy Working Group recommends that licensees should have to agree to scrap cheap drinks promotions as a condition of their liquor licence. The specific deals are not named but a ban on happy hours is part of the proposal. Group chairman Dr David Jeffs said: "Guernsey is a fairly affluent island. There are lots of young people with disposable income so there is a big drinking culture, probably no more so than in, say, London, but on a small island it makes more of an impact. "The police reckon drinking and disorder is the biggest problem to face." Jeffs said the shortage of facilities such as taxi drivers late at night meant Guernsey was less capable of handling a heavy-drinking culture. GLVA vice-president Mark Pontin backed plans to rid the island of irresponsible offers. He said the three nightclubs on the island were the worst offenders, with £1-a-drink offers and a deal where spirits are served in a children's sand bucket. "We support what Dr Jeff says. We don't think this is a responsible way to promote drinks. This is a very affluent place and I don't think we need to promote alcohol this way." Pontin, licensee of the Ship and Crown in Guernsey, said they would consider running a minimum price scheme, and would also like police to be allowed to close, for one week, venues that were known to promote disorder. Meanwhile, Guernsey police's chief officer George Le Page has said a more united approach is needed to cope with the demands of the late-night economy. The idea is probably to follow the example of the Isle of Man, which recently reported on the success of a scheme there that saw licensees, taxi companies, police and others work closely together to deal with the traffic of late-night revellers. The Guernsey Alcohol Strategy Working Group will put its report to top civil servants in the island, then it will go before Guernsey's Parliament.