More drink-free zones planned for Wales

Plans to extend the use of drink-free zones in Wales have been backed by a leading industry body.

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said alcohol prohibition zones - where it is forbidden to drink outside - are an effective way of tackling street drinking.

BBPA communications director Mark Hastings said: "We have always supported controlled drinking zones when they are used in a targeted way to tackle problems of on-street drinking, be that on certain street corners or in certain towns."

But he said the zones should be used with care. "If they are used in the right way to target the right things, there is no problem with them. But if they are used to stop people drinking outside licensed venues or during picnics that that would be wrong," he said.

The Welsh Assembly has announced plans for pilot projects to tackle alcohol-related crime. Drink-free areas are expected to be one of the initiatives used.

A spokesman said: "Alcohol prohibition zones are one of the options to combat alcohol related problems. We will be funding four pilot projects across Wales to put the plans into action."

Amy Hodder, licensee of The Two Brewers in Brackla, an area that suffers severe problems with underage street drinking, said: "I think it would be a good idea to control the young people and get them on the right track."

Other proposals include marking bottles with an ultraviolet code to identify the shop they came from.