Pub landlords in Wimbledon are not worried about drink-related crime in the lead up to Christmas despite government warnings about binge drinking.
By Holly Hamilton, Kiran Sidhu, Sam Green and Glyn Semple
Pub landlords in Wimbledon are not worried about drink-related crime in the lead up to Christmas despite government warnings about binge drinking.
Even though drinkers frequently over-step government limits of six units a night, most landlords rarely have to throw people out.
With several Christmas party bookings looming, Prince of Wales manager, Callum Davidson, 26, says his staff will not receive any extra training on dealing with drunks.
He said: “You’re more likely to say something bad to your boss, or have sex with a colleague than end up starting a riot.
“We never have problems with binge drinking. Isn’t it the season to be merry?”
Critics say promotional happy hours only encourage excess drinking, but only five boroughs have less violent crimes than Merton.
Mr. Davidson said: “In my experience, it’s not the people enjoying a few drinks on a Friday night who end up alcoholics, it’s the ones with serious personal problems.”
Brian Watts, Chief Executive of Equinox, a rehabilition centre which serves Merton, said: “Many of our service users have criminal records, are in housing need or fleeing domestic violence.
“They have complex needs requiring flexible and co-ordinated responses, all are vulnerable, and many have been overlooked for years.”
Aside from drink-related crime, the Department of Health state men should not drink more than three to four units of alcohol a day, and women no more than two to three.
Regular at the Wibbas Down Inn, Peter Noonen, said: “The government are out of touch with reality. If what they say is true then we are all binge drinkers.”
Stroke Association research officer Joanne Murphy said: “Six units within six hours is considered binge-drinking and anyone indulging in regular binge-drinking increases their risk of stroke greatly.”
