A woman has been labelled a 'habitual drunkard' and banned from attempting to purchase alcohol anywhere in the country. According to the local paper, Angela Wrightson is the first person in the last decade to be legally labelled a "drunkard" and banned from purchasing alcohol. Hartlepool council used section 6 of the 1902 Licensing Act, the 'Prohibition of sale of liquor to persons declared to be habitual drunkard', which can only be applied to someone previously convicted of an offence contained within the 1898 Inebriates Act.
The Safer Hartlepool Anti-Social Behaviour Unit took the measures due persistent offending and public order offences linked to her drinking, and the failure to engage in services or comply with an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO). Wrightson will be fined £200 if she is caught trying to buy alcohol, while licensed premises will be fined £500 if they serve her or anyone on her behalf.
In 2007 a Police Inspector in Cornwall said he would encourage his officers to use the same measures after claiming that 'Fixed Penalty Notices were not stiff enough' (story here).
However taking higher-end enforcement measures can be controversial, particularly when used on individuals with complex needs such as alcohol dependency and mental health problems. In 2007 a detailed report examined 'The impact of enforcement on street users in England' and found that whilst enforcement measures were effective, a range of other issues needed to be considered. An AERC Alcohol Academy briefing was recently produced examining Street drinking: enforcement Vs support - finding the balance.
Earlier this year the Home Office announced that Drinking Banning Orders would soon be available to allow police and local authorities to stop a person entering premises following the 2006 Violent Crime Reduction Act. No news as yet.
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