‘Leave your bottles at home’ plea to pre-load revellers

Pub and bar owners have appealed to their “pre-loading” patrons not to bring empty glass bottles with them on their nights out, in a bid to curb anti-social behaviour.

It follows reports that some revellers are drinking at home, then taking the bottles with them into taxis on their way to Ashford town centre bars and nightclubs later at night.

The bottles are then left lying around the town centre, which causes a litter problem and risks for people walking in the streets.

Ashford and Weald Partnership Against Crime manager Rebecca Molloy says it is a regular discussion item for Pubwatch members across the borough.

She said: “It can be a real problem for door staff outside bars and nightclubs, as people are taking their drinks into the taxis on the way to the premises.

“The concern from venues is that people are drinking before they are going out.

“Glass is then being left in the street, and could, later on, be used in some sort of brawl if things get out of hand.

“Managers in the night economy are struggling to regulate the problems that can happen later on at night.

“Door staff have to look out for people, and it can result in someone not being allowed in at the premises.

“But there is little the council or police can do to enforce it, so bars and clubs have to appeal to raise awareness.” Rebecca Molloy, of Partnership Against Crime

As a result, bar managers and pub watch members are appealing to patrons to recycle all glass bottles before they get in a taxi ahead of their night out.

Ashford Borough Council spokesman Christina Bailey said there had not been any specific incidents reported to the licensing enforcement officers.

She said: “There is nothing stated in law or the Ashford Borough Council taxi policy that passengers cannot drink or eat in a hackney or private hire vehicle.

“It is at the discretion of the driver or vehicle owner and it is not enforceable.

“The safety of our taxi drivers and residents is very important, and we will seriously investigate any concerns flagged to us in conjunction with our police licensing colleagues.”

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Bottles left by revellers are a hazard on the streets