Drink ban only part of the solution

It is clear that the antisocial behaviour of just a few people has the potential to make the lives of others miserable. The individuals involved might well claim they are not meaning any harm, but just as with islanders’ over-inflated fears of crime, as identified by the Committee for Home Affairs in its Justice Framework, many of us recoil at the first sense of feeling uncomfortable.

The atmosphere at times at the Bus Terminus, and before that, outside the Town Church, can be rather threatening. It’s certainly not the impression the island would want to give to visitors and it’s not something we want to live with, day in and day out.

However, as with the issue when the benches were removed from outside the Town Church, this doesn’t always resolve the problem – more than likely it just moves it on.

These behaviours, and recidivist drinking, are difficult matters to resolve. While it is positive that Home Affairs and Health & Social Care have been working together to consider additional support for those who regularly drink in the area, it’s also unlikely to offer a quick solution to a complex issue.

The alcohol-free zones will be reviewed in the autumn – but that review should be holistic, not just simply about reassessing behaviour at the bus terminus.