Town chiefs win war on booze bingers

BRITAIN'S worst town for binge-drinking has transformed itself after declaring war on drunken louts.

Alcohol-fuelled violence was rife in Oldham, Greater Manchester. One MP even compared the out-of-control town centre to the Wild West.

A FIFTH of the population drank at hazardous or dangerous levels. Now the local authority has won a battle to end the heavy-drinking culture and make the town a pleasant place for a night out again.

Officials decided to act after discovering that 41,000 people in the town had a drink problem and 7,000 were alcoholics.

The breakthrough came after they imposed the biggest clampdown in Britain on pubs and clubs and drink deals encouraging boozing.

Shut

Three nightclubs were shut down. Other watering holes were forced to introduce draconian restrictions including:

INTRODUCING orderly Post Office-style bar queues; MAKING venues pay for police during promotions; BANNING customers ordering more than two drinks per bar visit; ENDING table service for drinks; and GIVING advance notice to council and police of drinks promotions.

The clampdown has had a huge impact over the last year and could now be introduced in other towns.

Local councillor Mark Alcock told the News of the World: "Our measures may have seemed extreme but the fact is that they have worked. There's less crime and Oldham is now an enjoyable place to go out."

The town's booze problems date back years. One bar - the Tokyo Club - was criticised for offering customers all they could drink for £5.99 leading to bloody violence, vomiting and unconscious teenagers.

The Brownz Bar was shut down after a mass brawl left three men in hospital.

Oldham East Labour MP Phil Woolas said at the time: "The town centre at the weekend is like the Wild West. This is the last chance saloon."

A petition was signed by 3,500 local people calling for irresponsible drinks promotions to be banned. Oldham Council reviewed the licences of all 22 town centre pubs, bars and nightclubs. So far, 13 have accepted new restrictions and eight are in talks.

Darren Price, manager of The Old Bank pub, said: "The changes to the town are brilliant. There is much less violence. We just want a clean, tidy pub where everybody can enjoy a quiet drink if they want."

Andy Walker, from health campaign group Our Life, said: "We welcome measures addressing alcohol- fuelled crime and disorder in Oldham."

The changes in the town have also been welcomed by locals. We spoke to some out for a drink on Friday night. Builder Paul Butler, 33, said: "When you are younger, you think cut- price offers are great but then you see the trouble they cause.

"You couldn't go out for fear of seeing drunken people being sick or getting aggressive.

"I think what the council are doing is brilliant. Nobody wants to live in a town where you can't go out for a drink at night because you are scared."

Lauren Bloor, 20, said: "The whole town centre has completely changed. It is now a great place to come with your mates and have a good time.

Fights

"You used to see lads and girls getting absolutely off their heads because of the cheap drinks. You don't get that now."

Boyfriend Jordan Melia, 21, said: "You can come out and not worry about it all kicking off. There used to fights all the time around here but I haven't seen any trouble for ages."

Doona Marlor, 41, said: "I never used to come to Oldham because it was just too rough. "There is a lot less trouble.

"On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays you would hear stories of fighting but there is none of that kind of thing now."

Charlotte Martin, 26, said: "We know where we can go now and not worry about trouble. We just go to the pubs who have signed up to the scheme. It has made a lot of difference."

She said a strong and very visible police presence in the town centre also helped.

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