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Licensees set to serve up a
safe Christmas
WIRRAL Council and Merseyside Police
are joining forces with licensed premises to ensure the safest possible
Christmas for those out enjoying themselves over the festive period and the
staff who will be serving them.
Through new and existing networks of licensed premises across the borough, key
messages and valuable information and guidance is being shared that will help
licensees identify and deal with potential problems, in some cases before they
even happen.
Under the terms of their license to sell alcohol, retailers are required to
serve responsibly and premises across Wirral are making a commitment to ensure
their employees uphold this pledge, particularly in the run up to and during
Christmas and New Year.
This includes not serving alcohol to anyone who is clearly already drunk. It
also includes a commitment to challenge anyone who looks as though they are not
old enough to drink alcohol and to not serve them if they can't provide proof of
age.
Premises are being provided with details that will enable them to make a
decision on preventing individuals coming onto their premises if they have a
history of causing trouble.
Information on identity fraud and how to combat it is also being shared across
licensed premises.
Cllr Bernie Mooney, Wirral Council Cabinet member for Environment, said:-
"Everyone has a right to be able to celebrate safely at this time of year and
staff working in licensed premises should also not be put in any danger. We all
have a responsibility to look out for one another and by sharing information
across licensed premises and reminding them of the steps they can take to
provide a secure environment for staff and customers, I hope everyone will have
a safe and enjoyable festive period."
Wirral Superintendent Tracy Hayes from Merseyside Police added:- "We have
been working in partnership with our licensees in the Birkenhead and the Heswall
night time economy. Pubs and bars are now taking more responsibility in not
serving people who are already drunk or believed to be underage and this is
playing a part in keeping Wirral a safe place for visitors to enjoy.
Licensees have been made fully aware of the law and their responsibilities under
the Licensing Act and have educated bar staff after what to do if someone comes
to the bar intoxicated demanding a drink.
All staff and customers in licensed premises have the right to work and
socialise at safe and enjoyable places. Police officers will be conducting
multi agency visits to licensed premises at peak times across Wirral over the
festive period and we will be there primarily to keep people safe while they are
having a good time.
People need take responsibility themselves and watch what they drink so that
their behaviour does not let them down and ruin an otherwise great night out.
My message to people over the festive period is this: enjoy yourselves, pace
yourselves, take responsibility for your own behaviour and ensure you wake up
the next morning with memories of a great night out with friends rather than
regret and a sore head." |
