Pre-loading is a major issue, says top cop

The UK's most senior policeman on licensing has revealed he is acutely aware of the issue of "pre-loading", but argued there is no "silver bullet" for tackling alcohol-related problems.

Commander Simon O'Brien, the Association of Chief Police Officer's new lead on licensing, told delegates at The Publican's​ Pub Trade Summit: "There is an issue around pre-loading and a growing evidence base to show people are going out into the night-time economy having pre-loaded."

And he recognised the situation was affecting the pub trade. "More people are drinking more at home, instead of in pubs," he said.

Speaking as part of a panel debate, O'Brien also admitted there was no concrete evidence that alcohol disorder had increased since the Licensing Act.

"I can't put my finger on a group of statistics to show that it's worse," he said. But he warned: "People in town and cities have a perception and we must address perceptions as well as realities."

Earlier he suggested issues around binge-drinking and alcohol disorder were "very much in the psyche of the British consciousness".

But Paul Smith, chief executive of late-night operator trade group Noctis, bemoaned the fact that the concept of "Binge Britain" now helped sell tabloid newspapers.

"We should be talking more about the cohesive qualities of alcohol and what it's done for us," he said. "It's no coincidence that we are one of the most stable societies on earth."

Later O'Brien, on the subject of enforcement, reassured the trade by saying it was only one way to tackle a "complex" area.

"The vast majority of this industry is run well and run by some really good people," he said. "ACPO is not anti-alcohol. We are anti mis-use and mis-sale and the mis-behaviour that can come from it."

"We are talking about long-term issues here, but I don't think some of the easier solutions that have been offered as the silver-bullet will deliver the overall benefit," he said.