Police oppose new off-licence in Wolverhampton over street drinking

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 10 Oct, 07:19 · Archive

West Midlands Police has raised concerns about plans for a new off-licence in Wolverhampton's city centre.

West Midlands Police has raised concerns over plans to open a new off-licence called Shop Local in Wolverhampton city centre, arguing it would add to existing street-drinking problems in the area. The shop would occupy a former pawnbrokers on the corner of Darlington Street and North Street, opposite the city's defunct Beatties store, and would sell alcohol from 9am to 11pm.

The proposed location sits within Wolverhampton's 'cumulative impact zone', an area designated due to higher crime and disorder rates and the concentration of pubs, clubs, late-night venues and takeaways. This designation means new licence applications are subject to stricter conditions, and applicants must demonstrate their business will not worsen existing problems. While applications are not automatically rejected, they are usually only granted under 'exceptional circumstances'.

Police cited concern over 'pre-loading', where customers buy alcohol from off-licences and drink before going into pubs and clubs. According to Wolverhampton City Council's licensing policy, quoted by police, alcohol pre-loading from off-licence sales is a significant problem affecting drunkenness, disorderly behaviour and creating higher risk of alcohol sales to children and vulnerable people.

How it is being reported

• Police concern over new Wolverhampton off-licence fuelling 'city centre drinking problem'Parts of the city centre sit in a 'cumulative impact zone’ due to higher crime and disorder rates and the density of late-night venues and takeawaysBirminghamLive · 10 Oct, 07:00
• Police raise street-drinking concerns over plans for new Wolverhampton off-licenceWest Midlands Police has raised concerns over plans to open a new off-licence in Wolverhampton saying it would add to ‘significant’ street-drinking problems in the city centre.Express & Star · 8 Oct, 14:33

In this story: West Midlands Police · Wolverhampton · City of Wolverhampton Council · Shop Local

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