Belfast City Council backs new powers to tackle public drinking

Belfast City Council has announced its decision to opt in to proposed changes to public drinking laws that would grant officials the authority to request the surrender of alcoholic beverages in designated public areas. The move comes as part of a broader initiative led by the Stormont Department for Communities and the Department of Justice to modernize legislation addressing anti-social behaviour and alcohol consumption in public spaces.

Under the proposed amendments to the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008, council officers would be empowered to ask individuals to voluntarily surrender alcoholic drinks in areas where public drinking is restricted. While council staff would not have the power to forcibly confiscate alcohol, police officers would retain the authority to enforce surrender and issue fixed penalty notices to those who refuse to comply.

The council’s People and Communities Committee endorsed the recommendation to opt in, citing concerns over problematic alcohol consumption in public places across the city. In its formal response to the Stormont proposal, the council expressed support for additional enforcement powers, noting that the current procedures—often reliant on police statements and court appearances—are cumbersome and inefficient.

Belfast City Council also advocated for changes to the way fines are processed, recommending that fixed penalty payments be directed to local councils rather than the Clerk of the Petty Sessions. Officials argued that this adjustment would streamline enforcement and improve administrative efficiency.

The proposed legislative changes follow a public consultation held in late 2023, which revealed widespread support for updating the framework governing drinking in public. A majority of respondents agreed that police should have explicit powers to seize and dispose of alcohol in certain circumstances, and that councils should be allowed to participate in enforcement through an opt-in mechanism.