PLANS to restrict the drinking of alcohol in public parts of Rossendale have been dropped by the council. The plans are designed to reduce public drunkenness, alcohol-related violence and problems arising from under-age drinking.

At the moment officers from Pennine Police deal with more than 14 incidents related to alcohol per week. Police statistics show that only a small number of these occur in public places or on the streets. The majority of incidents relate to offences which have taken place in licensed premises or after a person has left the licensed premises.

With this in mind the council have agreed that a blanket ban across the board would be a disproportionate response to the problem and that instead they will look at a number of initiatives to deal with the problem.

To reduce under age drinking the council are working with police to instigate a 'Proof of Age' scheme. This would involve staff in pubs and licensees seeking proof of age from anyone they believe to be under 18 before making sales.

An alcohol education programme, where guidance will be given to parents, schools and Youth Services, will be given to foster responsible drinking attitudes.

To reduce public drunkenness and alcohol-related crime, a pub, club and bar 'watch' schemes will be introduced. This will include exclusion from licensed premises for known troublemakers. A meeting with all licensees in Rossendale is being arranged to discuss the implementation of the programme. Disorderly and noisy premises known as 'hot spots' will be targeted by police who were given new powers of closure under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.

A spokesman for Rossendale Police said: "We are not the worst place in the world for drinking by any means, but if we believe there is a constant problem in one particular area, we will target that area and put a stop to it."