Police pub checklist for World Cup

Police have sent licensees in the East Riding of Yorkshire a 14-point checklist of good practice to avoid problems during the World Cup.

Considering the use of polycarbonate glassware, ensuring the designated premises supervisor is present at "key times", and discouraging "promotions that encourage excessive drinking" are included.

It comes in a letter to licensees that says police "will attempt to visit most licensed premises that screen World Cup games to ensure every one's enjoyment, and, more importantly, to ensure that individuals are not alarmed or distressed by those persons whose behaviour is unacceptable".

Beverley Pubwatch spokesman Brian Brooks said the advice is "just common sense". MA legal editor Peter Coulson questioned the need for the guidance when so much of it is obvious.

Other advice includes: ensure viewing areas are supervised; consider soft-drink options; consider using doorstaff; ensure staff are trained not to serve drunks or under-18s; ensure CCTV is working. It also urges good communication with police, other pubs and customers.

It comes as the officer in charge of policing England fans travellng to South Afrcia warns of potential trouble in pubs.

Andy Holt said that 3,200 football banning orders, preventing people travelling abroad, have been issued, meaning troublemakers will stay at home.

"If we have a hot June and England progress to the later stages, then pubs start running alcohol promotions and we have the potential for trouble from drunken fans," he told the Daily Telegraph.

Meanwhile, Lincoln pubs have a simple way to tell customers if they're showing games. Posters saying whether games will be screened have been distributed to 64 pubs at a pubwatch meeting.

The posters have been funded by the Lincoln Business Improvement Group.