Drink-drivers banned from roads

Ipswich: Super-strength alcohol drive wins support

Lauren Everitt Thursday, September 27, 2012
6:06 PM

A CAMPAIGN to get low-price, super-strength alcohol off the town’s streets has received national backing.

Reducing the Strength was launched on Monday with stores including Tesco, the East of England Co-op and McColls newsagents signing up to remove the products from their shelves.

Suffolk police, NHS Suffolk, Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council have all backed the initiative which is targeted at beers and ciders with an alcohol volume of 6.5per cent or more.

National newspapers including The Guardian, Daily Mail and Financial Times have picked up Ipswich’s campaign to tackle super-strength beer and cider as well as broadcasters such as BBC Radio 5 and Sky News.

Inspector Andrew Mason, of Suffolk police, said: “We have been very encouraged with the reaction, media support and coverage we have received following the launch of the campaign.

“A number of off licence premises decided to sign up to the scheme after the launch and we now have over 60 premises who have agreed to stop selling super strength alcohol.

“With Ipswich being the first town in the country to introduce this scheme we are delighted that so many premises have already agreed to work with us and support us in this campaign.”

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6 comments

This so-called "campaign" is all very well, but it seems to deliberately discriminate against members of the street drinking community. If there was a campaign to ban a perfectly legal beverage that was imbibed by a specific ethnic, religious, disability or transgender group (aka "BLT") there would be an outcry.

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bigger niche

Saturday, September 29, 2012
this is a superb idea. drunks on the street are becoming a huge problem in the town centre. i went for dinner with mates last night and on the way had the pleasure of meeting 3 drunks who were either shouting at passers by or being sick. this needs to be tackled early to stop the next generation doing the same.

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Davin

Friday, September 28, 2012
I understand the problem of street drinking...but does that mean that the majority will again be punished because of the minority? I happen to like Sainsburys cider 7% have never and would never dream of drinking out of a bottle even let alone on the street . Will this campaign mean I will not be able to buy it to take home? Wine and spirits can be quite cheap how about banning that as well?

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Alex Prowse

Thursday, September 27, 2012
How about telling us the identity of the 60 "good guys" who have signed up so far - others may wish to follow if their customers start asking why they have not.

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The original Victor Meldrew

Thursday, September 27, 2012
What about people who like the taste of Special Ultra Brand high strength booze? Oh, they don't exist.

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Winston Barrington Jr.

Thursday, September 27, 2012
Past Governments have increased duty on beers at every Budget, but usually left duty on spirtits alone. Any increase in duty should have been on the alcohol content.

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chas winfield

Thursday, September 27, 2012