A city wide Designated Public Place Order has been in operation in Wolverhampton since April 2013, giving police powers to stop people from drinking and to surrender alcohol if they are causing - or likely to cause - anti social behaviour.
The City of Wolverhampton Council is now enhancing these police powers by introducing an outright ban on street drinking in St Peter's and Park wards, including the city centre, in response to local concerns.
The only exceptions will be for licensed premises within these wards which have beer gardens or pavement seating areas, and for temporary public events which receive prior approval from the council's Licensing team.
Councillor Paul Sweet, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "The existing measures had a positive impact on addressing the issue of people drinking alcohol in the streets in Wolverhampton, and police will continue having these powers which they can use on a discretionary basis to tackle anti social behaviour.
"However, concerns raised in St Peter's and Park wards and within the city centre by residents and businesses indicated that a more robust response was needed there, and so we are introducing this additional prohibition to ban the drinking of alcohol in the streets in those areas.
"Feedback from those who took part in the consultation was overwhelmingly positive, and the new powers have the full support of West Midlands Police.
"The existing controls will of course still apply city wide, but this move will enable the authorities to use stronger powers in those areas where most complaints have been received."
- released: Wednesday 5 April, 2017