Thursday, February 24, 2011

Residents asked views over street drinking

RESIDENTS are being asked for their views on new council powers to tackle drinking in the street.

The city council is set to allow alcohol to be confiscated by police or community protection officers in more than 50 streets, in four parks and playing fields and at David Lane tram stop.

The Designated Public Place Order would not make it an offence to drink, and officials could use their discretion over whether to confiscate booze.

It comes after a couple were banned from selling alcohol at their shop after serving a 14-year-old.

It was the second time Sushma Bharadwaj, 57, and husband Ashok Bharadwaj, 61, of Camelot Avenue, had been caught selling to people under the age of 18.

Basford councillor Mick Newton said he hoped the case would act as a warning to other off-licences.

"I am very pleased with the decision that has been taken," he said. "Off-licences have a huge responsibility in the way they operate within the community. It is in everyone's interests to protect the young and it is clear that this off-licence has failed to fulfil its responsibilities.

"I hope other off-licences and pubs in the area take note."

He added that the prosecution and new powers could help to end problem drinking in public places.

He said: "With the warning sent out by the prosecution and the ban on street drinking, it's going to make a terrific difference."

Mr and Mrs Bharadwaj were fined �1,030 by Nottingham magistrates after one of their employees sold a bottle of alcopop to a 14-year-old girl during a Community Protection Trading Standards operation in January last year.

The employee made no attempt to ask for identification.

The pair's premises licence was revoked for the Arnold Road store at a November hearing.

It has been decided that Mrs Bharadwaj should lose her personal licence as well.

Head of licensing for community protection, Pete Mitchell, said: "They [the court] concluded that Mrs Bharadwaj had a complete lack of control and no effective systems in place at the premises which meant there had been a significant failure in the duty expected of them under the Licensing Act 2003."

Mr Bharadwaj was not ordered to forfeit his personal licence but it has been surrendered. Neither Mr or Mrs Bharadwaj are permitted to sell alcohol from any premises until they re-apply.

In 2009, the couple were found guilty of selling alcohol to a minor and had their premises licence revoked for ASB News in Mansfield Road.

Mr Mitchell said: "Mr and Mrs Bharadwaj will no longer be able to trade and both have a criminal record for selling alcohol to children."

Plans showing the extent of the Designated Public Place Order will be on display until April 1 at Basford Library, Vernon Road, at the Council House and at Loxley House, in Station Street.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503354/s/12ef0d3f/l/0L0Sthisisnottingham0O0Cnews0CResidents0Easked0Eviews0Estreet0Edrinking0Carticle0E32616110Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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