Pubs are the solution to alcohol-related violence, claims leading academic

Dr Adrian Barton, of the Plymouth Business School, revealed how the crackdown on cheap drinks in licensed premises has helped to create a new model of home-pub-club drinking or “pre-loading”,  which in turn has contributed to the rise in alcohol-related crime and disorder.

A survey of nearly 600 people who had been arrested, and for the first time, investigated the pattern of drinking in the hours before their detention.

Two-thirds of the interviewees aged 17-30 had been drinking in domestic premises before moving into the town, with the majority reporting that they were already drunk by the time they reached it. 83% of those people had purchased beer, wine and spirits from a supermarket, and 40% were later arrested for violence-related offences.

Dr Barton said: “Somewhat paradoxically, it would appear that previous government policy around alcohol, such as the restrictions on discounted drinks promotions and happy hours, and extended licensing hours, could be at the root of some of these problems.

“There is clear demand for cheap early evening drinks, and it is possible that reducing the availability of these in licensed premises has contributed to the rise in ‘pre-loading’. Extended late opening prolongs what we term ‘the drinking event’ and increases the likelihood of excessive drinking and flashpoints.”

Dr Barton said that current government policy was still locked into viewing drinking as operating around a ‘pub-club’ model, and failed to take account of evidence that suggests up to 50% of people drink at home before leaving.

He added: “Although it may seem counter intuitive, it may be that that in order to better control violence in the night time economy, government policy needs to entice people back into the pubs and bars, especially for the crucial early evening period, where they can at least be monitored by staff, and where their drinking patterns will have natural breaks when they move from place-to-place.”