PSPO to make Camden a ‘responsible drinking borough’

While the London Borough of Camden’s licensing department continues to hand out licences to sell alcohol at pace, another department in the council is concerned about the “anti-social behaviour” (ASB) linked to drinking.

“As part of our commitment to tackle ASB we are proposing to introduce a borough-wide Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to deal with ASB linked to alcohol consumption in public places and to make Camden a responsible drinking borough,” says the local authority. 

“If implemented, anyone causing alcohol related ASB may be issued a fixed penalty notice of £100 or face prosecution. The restrictions include failing to stop drinking alcohol if requested to do so by an authorised officer and failing to surrender any alcohol or anything an officer believes to be alcohol, whether in a sealed or unsealed container, which will be disposed of,” states the announcement.

Councillor Pat Callagham, cabinet member for safer communities, said: “While many people drink alcohol responsibly in Camden, these new powers would allow us to take further action against people acting irresponsibly on our streets and causing intimidating or unsafe behaviour towards others.”

Camden’s cabinet of senior councillors approved the public consultation in January.

A report to councillors stated that “ASB and crime relating to irresponsible use of alcohol in public places continues to be a regular source of concern amongst residents, particularly within the night-time economy”.

However, Camden says “a responsible drinking borough will aid the development of a safe and prosperous night-time economy”. The PSPO would “not extend to licensed premises”.

The term “responsible drinking” has been criticised by the Institute of Alcohol Studies as they say it is a mantra concocted by the UK alcohol industry as a way of obscuring the facts about the harm from drinking.

The World Health Organisation states that “no level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health” because any potential benefits are outweighed by the cancer risk from even “light” to “moderate” drinking.

Last year councillors approved a policy to make it easier for licensed premises to sell alcohol for longer hours.

A public consultation on the PSPO is open until 19 March 2026.

Camden Council: Consultation on Responsible Drinking Public Space Protection Order.

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