Alcohol action plan

Police power to close disorderly pubs Possible new powers to seize alcohol Duty for alcohol retailers to check age Possibility of fixed penalty notices for drunkenness Support good practice in pubs Increased use of toughened glass

Plans put forward by ministers include the possibility of introducing fixed fines for public drunkenness, like those for speeding offences.

There is the possibility of new laws to ban drinking in certain designated areas and new powers to allow police to seize alcohol.

Further backing for proof-of-age schemes to combat under-age drinking and the use of different glass to lessen the impact of attacks also form part of the government action plan.

Conservative John Bercow said: "The government is expecting fewer police officers to tackle violent crime and drunken yobbery and it is not clear how that is going to happen."

Drink and crime

Home Office Minister Charles Clarke said: "We know the rise in violent crime is in part alcohol-related. This must be combated."

He added: "Public drunkenness can give rise to serious problems of disorderly conduct, nuisance, criminal damage and alcohol-related assaults, particularly in the proximity of licensed premises at closing time.

"In addition, it can increase fear of crime and so reduce the quality of life for many people. This is clearly unacceptable."

Alcohol statistics

UK spends �25bn a year on drink About 40% of violent crime is alcohol-related. There are about 5,000 "glassings" each year About 90% of the UK drinks alcohol

Drunken offenders are responsible for 40% of violent crime, over three quarters of all assaults and 88% of criminal damage cases, according to government figures.

The prime minister's plan to allow police to deal out on-the-spot-fines - condemned by police officers themselves - is not being considered.

Paying the penalty

The introduction of fixed penalty fines - similar to those issued to speeding motorists - would be served in the form of notices to people involved in drunken or loutish behaviour.

Individuals would have to pay a fine within a set period, or go to court.

Some areas will operate proof-of-age schemes, so that over-18s can apply for ID cards to prove they are old enough to buy alcohol.

While this may not initially extend to every area of England and Wales, the Home Office will be calling on retailers to "take reasonable steps" to confirm the age of customers.

The Brewers and Licensed Retailers' Association welcomed the plans as "a firm foundation" on which to tackle alcohol-related crime and disorder.

But it called for a single, national identity card scheme for teenagers, more exclusion orders to ban persistent and troublesome drunks and tougher action against bootleggers.

New proposals already in practice

In July, a new city by-law gave police officers on Merseyside greater powers to stamp out drunken violence in the city centre, most of which happens on Friday and Saturday nights.

The council regulation - believed to be the first of its kind in England and Wales - allows police officers to seize glasses and opened bottles of alcohol on Liverpool's streets.

Council leaders in Liverpool believe the new by-law will provide a model for other local authorities.