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A Guernsey politician has said alcohol-free zones could be a "good suggestion" for Jersey to tackle problem drinking areas, after they proved "highly effective" at cracking down on anti-social hot-spots in St Peter Port.
Deputy Simon Vermeulen suggested that such zones could help where there was "a genuine problem with drinking and underage drinking", but only if they were "applied sensibly".
St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft touted the idea at a recent Havre des Pas Improvement Group meeting.
Constable Crowcroft said the parish had tried “everything” to deal with the issue of problem drinking, which involved groups congregating to drink, often outside shops and on street corners.
Shopkeepers were “quite reasonably” reluctant to do anything about people who had left the premises, he added.
Constable Crowcroft said the parish received “regular complaints” from residents about people relieving themselves behind properties.
He said he believed the only solution was to introduce areas where drinking is not allowed – although he declined to comment on any areas he had in mind.
The idea of alcohol exclusion zones has been discussed in Jersey in the past and an updated licensing law that would have limited where people were allowed to drink was drafted in 2011 by then-Economic Development Minister Alan Maclean, but it never came into effect.
In 2021, Guernsey's Home Affairs Committee agreed to designate the Church Square in St Peter Port as an alcohol-free zone, with the exception of events and activities organised by the Town Church.
At the time, the Committee's President – Deputy Rob Prow – said that the decision followed "a number of concerning reports" regarding anti-social behaviour in the area.
However, Deputy Prow acknowledged that the move was "not going to solve the issue in its entirety" and that "proper support" for those involved would be investigated with the aid of the Health & Social Care Committee.
Another zone was introduced the following year at the St Peter Port Bus Terminus.
Again, Deputy Prow acknowledged it was "not a perfect solution" and that there was a need to "try and help people who are regularly drinking" in the area.
Deputy Vermeulen, Vice-President of Guernsey's Home Affairs Committee, told Express that the anti-social behaviour had taken up "an awful lot of police time".
He described the zones as "highly effective", although he acknowledged they did not tackle the underlying issues.
Pictured: Guernsey's Bus Terminus was one of the areas designated an alcohol-free zone in the island.
Deputy Vermeulen added: "If there is a genuine problem with drinking and underage drinking it could be a good suggestion for Jersey, if it is applied sensibly."
According to data published by the States of Jersey Police, offences involving anti-social behaviour and assault were the types of crime most likely to involve alcohol between 2020 and 2022.
But Jersey's Home Affairs Minister, Deputy Mary Le Hegarat, questioned whether such zones would simply move the problem "from one area to another".
Pictured: Deputy Le Hegarat said alcohol-free zones could simply move anti-social behaviour "from one area to another".
Deputy Le Hegarat continued: "These sorts of ideas and discussions have been around in the past.
"If the States police came to me and asked us to look at it then we would consider it together – but it is something that I would like to consult with them on before considering."
Jason Wyse, CEO of the Silkworth Charity Group, which supports drug addicts and alcoholics, also pointed out that introducing such zones would not address the "root cause" of alcohol-related issues.
Pictured: Silkworth CEO Jason Wyse stressed that those struggling with alcohol needed to be supported.
Mr Wyse continued: "It has to be done in collaboration with some sort of support or protocols to help these people."
He added: "Are they [the zones] just moving the problem from one place to another?
"It's not the whole solution."
Should Jersey introduce alcohol free zones?
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