The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) is urging the government to enforce a strict ban on drinking in public.

The call for the ban follows the news that c-stores could yet be held liable for the cost of extra policing in the new government-labelled Alcohol Disorder Zones (ADZs).
ACS public affairs executive Shane Brennan believes it is wrong for c-stores to be made to foot the bill.

He said: “The ACS believes that the possible inclusion of c-stores that sell alcohol within the proposed ADZs would be excessive and that it would be unfair to expect c-store retailers, many of whom close before the trouble starts, to be liable for the cost of policing these areas.”

Brennan suggested that a better option would be to tighten measures that are already in place to control disorder. He added: “There are already significant powers to prohibit street drinking via Designated Place Orders and Street Drinking Byelaws.”