The term street drinking is used to refer to individuals who persistently drink on the streets, usually in groups, consuming alcohol purchased from places like off-licences and supermarkets.

Such drinking is associated with offensive and abusive behaviour, disturbance to neighbours and surrounding businesses and littering and fouling of public and private space.

The term does not refer to people drinking outside pubs and bars or groups enjoying a bottle of wine in a public place. Street drinking is commonly but not always associated with other anti-social behaviour matters arising on the streets of the Better Bankside BID such as rough sleeping and begging.

The street drinking population in the BID is small but its impact is disproportionately high. Better Bankside's Rangers deal with street drinkers on a daily bases. They will challenge individuals or groups drinking in this way, they will take details and descriptions as well as requiring the perpetrators to move on.

Street drinking is reported to the Council's Street Population Outreach Team and its Anti Social Behaviour team who will visit and see what help and assistance can be provided.

Where such actions fail to resolve the problems the Council has the power to make a Designated Public Place Order. This gives the police power to require individuals to cease drinking or face a criminal charge if the order is refused.

Report an incident to the Rangers