Police are considering banning the sale of super-strength alcohol in Birmingham city centre to reduce public order problems.
Crime Commissioner Bob Jones has met Chief Constable Chris Sims to discuss the radical plans, which could see retailers asked to sign a voluntary ban.
The move follows the success of a pilot scheme in Ipswich last September, which was credited with dramatically slashing alcohol-related street crime.
Suffolk Police said it had seen a 49 per cent reduction in alcohol-fuelled incidents in the town during the voluntary campaign.
The joint experiment was launched by police and the Co-op amid concerns about disorder caused by drunks becoming intoxicated by the likes of Tennent’s Super and Carlsberg Special Brew.
Comm Jones told a meeting of the Strategic Policing and Crime Board that he would like to gauge support for a Birmingham ban, during a discussion about anti-social behaviour in the city centre.
He added: “I have been very impressed with the impact that the trial in Ipswich has had.
“I have already had a meeting with the Chief Constable to discuss this issue,’’ he said.
‘‘We are currently looking at plans to talk to our partner organisations to see if there is an appetite for the same kind of scheme here in Birmingham.”
Around 80 of 122 stores in Ipswich stopped the sale of cheap beers, lagers and ciders with an alcohol volume of above 6.5 per cent. They included Tesco, Debenhams, M&S, BHS, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Aldi.
Suffolk Police said that between last September and this March the public had reported 94 booze-related incidents to police, compared with 191 the previous year.
Tim Newcomb, assistant chief constable at Suffolk, said: “We have seen some clear improvements and the campaign is helping us move towards an even safer town.”
As well as backing from the local retailers, the scheme is also supported by the NHS and local council.
