The practical guide for preventing and dealing with alcohol related problems
What you need to know
This Practical Guide is the essential reference for all those responsible for, and with an interest in, tackling alcohol-related crime and disorder. It also provides clear and comprehensive guidance to the tools and powers available to enforcement authorities and provides for them examples of good practice, specimen forms and decision-making flowcharts. A digital, interactive version of the guide will be available on-line shortly.
Title: The practical guide for preventing and dealing with alcohol related problems
Author: Home Office
Number of pages: 119
Date published: June 2009
Availability: Download full report 
PDF 6.4Mb LARGE FILE!
Drinking alcohol has played a long-standing and generally positive role in British culture. Alcohol can enhance social occasions but, as frontline officers often attest, there is a minority who misuse alcohol and cause problems, both for the majority who enjoy alcohol safely and responsibly, and for our communities as a whole.
There are still unacceptable levels of violence and disorder in many of our town and city centres. The problem is not just confined to a minority of adults; we often see young people drinking alcohol in public places – parks and street corners – and whilst those young people may not cause trouble, this type of behaviour is often linked to crime and anti-social behaviour – or at least is perceived as being so.
Whilst the majority of licensed premises are well-run there is nevertheless a minority which are operated in an irresponsible manner, for example some break the law and sell alcohol to people who are already drunk; others sell alcohol to young people; and there are premises which ignore the conditions attached to their licence. There are also unlicensed premises that operate outside the law. We know that identifying and tackling these problem licensed and unlicensed premises is crucial to delivering real, tangible changes in alcoholrelated crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour.
The police and other frontline enforcement agencies have a wide range of tools and powers available to them to tackle alcohol-related harms. They can close problem premises down; they can revoke licenses; and they can encourage licensing authorities to consider where tougher, more comprehensive and targeted conditions might be appropriate following a licence review. Use of these powers is increasing but we know from last year’s review of the Licensing Act that more can be done – and we are committed to do what we can to help.
This guide is designed to help the enforcement authorities take a proactive and robust approach to enforcement. It provides the framework for enforcement officers. It is not prescriptive; enforcement officers must of course tailor enforcement to individual circumstances. Although the guide is aimed primarily at enforcement officers I hope it is also of use to all who are involved in the alcohol licensing process, including magistrates, courts officials and elected members, particularly those who sit on licensing committees.
Whilst it has been formatted to be easy to use and of practical use, we will revise the guide at regular intervals to ensure it is kept up to date – this will also give us the opportunity to fine-tune the format and design. If you have suggestions for improving the guide, particularly for making it more user-friendly, please send them to alcoholstrategy@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk.
The guide contains:
- Introduction
The first page outlines Licensing Objectives and Responsible Authorities. - The Licensing Process
Concentrates on alcohol licences and how prevention and control starts at application, or a subsequent Variation or Review, with Conditions. - Intelligence and Planning
Check out whether your data gathering can be improved. Better planning comes from better intelligence. Many tools available are described but innovation is welcome for best practice – share your ideas with us. Lead agencies need to be agreed. - Tactics
Are firstly about avoiding problems by working with the industry, the public and other agencies, but the final tactic…. - Powers and Enforcement
… provides increased powers to control as well as appropriate offences. - Appendices
Look here for detailed practical examples and procedures and further research. The document is structured, as far as possible, from minor to major and the appropriate point of entry will depend on the level of problem faced. References to the Act (including section numbers) relate to the Licensing Act 2003 unless stated otherwise.
Related materials
The Home Office has also published a series of flyers outlining the relevant alcohol-related offences and powers for the 4 groups of practitioners.
 Download Police licensing officer - Reviews and closures 2009 |  |
 Download Trading Standards – Underage drinking guidance 2009 |
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Getting a copy
Download The practical guide for preventing and dealing with alcohol related problems PDF 6.4Mb LARGE FILE!
Last update: Friday, September 04, 2009