Boozing Banned
Drinking on the streets of Oxford has become an illegal offence, as the City Council attempts to curb antisocial behaviour. A recent expansion of the "alcohol-free zones" originally introduced last autumn now means that anyone seen drinking outside the King's Arms may now be liable to a £500 fine.
The council originally introduced the legislation in October of last year to curb 'anti-social behaviour' in a few specific areas around Oxford, with Cornmarket and George Street among them. Following a decision last month, however, the law now also applies to six more areas including Broad Street and Walton Street, and several pubs and bars have been told by police to remove their outdoor tables as a consequence. Manager of Green, Andrew Moody complained of the council "taking a broad sweeping approach to a particular problem, and putting family dinners under the same category as drunken fights."
Earlier this week, however, David Kyffin, landlord of the King's Arms, revealed exclusively to The OxStu that "the tables will be back". After receiving complaints from businesses, the council are about to grant restricted licenses to allow pubs to serve alcohol to their tables on the street, but despite the victory, Kyffin, also a county councillor, was concerned over the wider implications for students in Oxford. "The drinking ban on the streets will stay, the chances of overturning it are zero. It's a shame, but the days of students sitting with a pint on the steps of the Bodleian are now gone."
The popular tradition of champagne celebrations after exams is also one which will be missed by this year's finalists, although Sergeant Jim Shraine of Oxford's City Centre Unit admits that "discretion and common sense" will be used in the law's implementation. Those celebrating next year's May Day morning will also be hoping for leniency.
Sgt. Shraine told The OxStu, however, that the new regulations had his full support. "The decision was based on experience. We have horrendous problems with drink related offenses, and we need to combat these problems. There's no doubt, it will be enforced."
30th Oct 2003