‘Booze ban will help us stop parties’
CHIEF CONSTABLE WELCOMES TOUGHER TIER THREE RULES
THE head of Nottinghamshire Police believes the 9pm alcohol sales ban will help stop “impromptu” house parties.
Despite £10,000 fines imposed on students who had more than 30 people at their home, late night parties have continued to happen in Nottingham.
But now – under the new Toer Three rules – shops are no longer allowed to sell alcohol after
9pm in the county.
This comes as Covid hospital admissions in Nottingham rise to their highest level since the peak in April.
Chief Constable Craig Guildford said many of the reported parties had been organised on a whim and that the new restriction should stop dome of them from happening.
“Some of these parties have definitely been an impromptu gathering after the pub and bar has closed after 10pm,” he told the Post.
“It will help resolve it. It is a creative solution to reduce spontaneous parties, mainly house parties.
“This weekend is Hallowe’en. There will be more resources on, and you may see more house parties for young people but hopefully the message is clear – parties are not allowed in Tier Three.”
He said as part of Tier Three policing, up to 100 extra officers would be working to ensure that the new rules are not broken.
They will respond to any reports of house parties and gatherings and will not be afraid to impose fines of up to £10,000 on those flouting the rules.
They will also be visiting licensed premises such as supermarkets and offlicences to ensure that alcohol is not being served after 9pm.
Anyone shopkeeper caught doing so could have their licence reviewed and possibly taken away.
He said officers would be working with councils’ licensing departments.
“I am sure they will comply and understand the seriousness behind it but we will take enforcement against any of those who don’t comply.
“If licence holders are not being responsible then the council can take their licence away.
“I think everyone understands that the patience of the public is wearing thin with people who are breaking the rules and admissions in hospitals is going up.
“People in hospital with Covid at the peak was 296 in April. As of today it is 361.
“We are now less education and more enforcement.”