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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 21 November 2008

Cllr George Allan

Pub and clubs are ‘read the riot act’ over binge boozing

Anti-social behaviour due to alcohol ‘out of hand’

BINGE drinking is so “out of hand” in the south of the borough that publicans and club owners are being warned they could lose their licence to sell booze.
At an emergency two-hour meeting, organised by Islington Council and the police, up to 100 pub and club representatives were “read the riot act” and told they must control their customers.
It follows an avalanche of complaints about all-night rowdy behaviour in an area where a heavy proliferation of bars and nightspots operate close to mainly residential parts of the City, Clerkenwell, Finsbury and Farringdon.
Temporary urinals have just been introduced near Farringdon Tube station, where huge crowds of drinkers leaving clubs in the early hours are known to urinate in doorways. New measures are also being considered for on-the-spot fines for street drinking and banning any new alcohol outlets from opening under a “saturation” policy.
Clerkenwell Lib Dem councillor George Allan, chairman of the south area committee, said: “We’ve just had enough. We’ve told the pubs and clubs in the area that either they get their customers to behave or we close them down. It’s as simple as that.”
This is the first time that Islington has publicly admitted that it is struggling to control outlets given free rein under the Labour government’s 24-hour Licensing Act of 2001. The bill, which was meant to allow a more relaxed, flexible approach to drinking has, according to critics, unleashed a wave of bad behaviour which the police struggle to control.
Cllr Allan said: “One good thing about the Act is that we can appeal against a licence in the event of problems. It’s called a review and if it is successful the outlet would lose their licence.
“I’m actively helping two lots of residents bring reviews to a licensing committee involving two different outlets.”
Cllr Allan said that after 30 years of campaigning for a better quality of life and environment in the south of the borough, a lot of good work was being undone thanks to unruly drunks vomiting and urinating where they please.
He added: “Pub and club behaviour was never very good, but now it is deteriorating. The lack of responsibility by the licensing trade is actually seriously impacting on the quality of life of residents and threatening the residential revival.”
Among the biggest problems are Farringdon Lane, Cowcross Street and Britannia Street, where residents and nightclubs live next door to each other.
Cllr Allan said: “Britannia Street has 270 homes with about 500 people living there, and for the first time since the late 19th century, the residential population is rising. We expect that the closer a licensing establishment is to a residential area the higher the standards of management have to be. But it’s not happening.
“I’ve been out late at night with colleagues and seen the crowds. They’ve already bought their booze.
“They colonise the streets around Farringdon station intimidating commuters who are forced off pavements into the paths of cars. It’s totally unacceptable in a civilised world.”

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