Government admits 'no ADZs' - a year since introduction

The government has admitted that zero alcohol disorder zones (ADZs) have been introduced more than a year after the much-hyped measures were introduced.

The system, designed to tackle alcohol-related problems and introduced on June 5 last year, means pubs in an ADZ have to pay up to £100 a week for the cost of extra policing.

But in a written statement to Parliament yesterday, Home Office Minister Alan Campbell admitted no councils had yet brought in an ADZ.

The reason for this, Campbell said, was that council and police "already have a wide range of powers and tools to tackle many of the problems that they encounter and no local authority felt that it had as yet reached the point of 'last resort'".

ADZs were a key pledge in Labour's 2005 election manifesto.

But Campbell said the government was determined to push on with its controversial mandatory code of practice, currently going through Parliament - but being fiercely opposed by the trade.

Many councils and police are also reportedly against the code.

Campbell said: "The government remain concerned about the effect that a number of licensed premises acting irresponsibly together may have on an area.

"For that reason, in addition to this legislation we have introduced new provisions in the Policing and Crime Bill, currently before Parliament, that will allow a licensing authority to take action against two or more premises if they are contributing to alcohol-related crime or disorder."

The code is currently out for public consultation until August 5. To have your say visit: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/cons-2009-alcohol