YEAR two of Liberation Day alcohol-free zones were a success, according to licensees and police. Inspector Tom Makins said that the law was self-policed and they made no arrests of people ignoring the zones.
‘They were a success this year but they were a success last year as well. ‘It’s a case of a police officer asking someone to tip away the contents or dispose of a bottle. We didn’t get any confrontation.’
Simon Allum, licensee of the White Hart, agreed. He said that few flouted the law and those who did had simply forgotten. ‘It was a great success. With regard to trouble: it was no different to any other weekend. I think it worked really well. It was very much a family-friendly day. I didn’t see people staggering around. It seemed much better.
‘I would definitely support it next year. Through the year you don’t walk around with alcohol in the streets so it should be no different to any other time of the year. It’s a good idea, anything to make it a nice day.’
Mark Pontin, licensee of the Ship and Crown, noticed that there were a lot more families this year, which he put down to the weather as well as the alcohol-free zones.
‘As it was the second year I think it worked very well. It was a lot, lot better. In the evening they had the Vale Earth stage and that was well policed.
‘People respected it, it was only the under-18s sneaking in alcohol who didn’t. We didn’t get anybody walking around with cans of beer. Everyone knew about it because it was the second year.
‘There was a great family atmosphere all along the seafront.
‘But I don’t think they need to extend it to a larger area next year. I think it goes far enough.’
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