West Kirby beaches and parks now alcohol-free zones

Merseyside Police say they will be out in force this summer ensuring West Kirby beach and surrounding parks and open spaces are alcohol-free and "remain a family friendly environment for all to enjoy."

The area in and around West Kirby Beach and park, and the town centres of both Hoylake and West Kirby are alcohol-free zones.

This means police have the power to confiscate and dispose of alcohol and fine anyone drinking it up to £500.

If anyone fails to comply with the officer’s request they could face arrest.

This applies to anyone of any age drinking alcohol in public in the stated alcohol free zones.

Officers from Hoylake Police Station have already seized a large quantity of booze from people drinking in and around West Kirby beach.

197 unopened bottles and cans of lager Around 100 cans of lager and bottles of wine and vodka were confiscated and poured away.

Neighbourhood Sergeant Andy Carter said: "West Kirby beach is a family friendly area and people come from all over Merseyside to enjoy the scenery, especially during nice weather.

"We want to ensure this area remains safe and vibrant by heavily enforcing the alcohol-free zone.

"If you are caught with alcohol it will be confiscated and you could face a very heavy fine.

"This is not meant to ruin people's fun but to stop anti-social behaviour and ensure people can enjoy a great day out."

THE GLOBE

I wish they would extend this to New Brighton too. The amount of bottles and cans that have been left on the beach over the weekend (not to mention all the disposable bbq's, dirty nappies, crisp packets etc) is ridiculous!! Why can't people take their rubbish home with them

I agree with the rubbish element, but to tackle it by banning alcohol is unfair.

I think it's a good idea personally. If you are on the beach, the last thing you want is some drunken pillocks spoiling the day for everyone. Plus, if you have kids with you, I don't think you should be getting hammered anyway - too many dangers on the beaches and in the water JMPO

But what about for the people who are sensible, and just fancy a few cool beers.......

Decant it into a different bottle I don't think you fit that category anyway do you do sensible

I agree 100%. It's a disgrace when I see the Marine Lake full of rubbish left over from dirty visitors.

I even saw a shoe on the beach. You would of thought the girl who left it might of realised that her limping home was due to only having one shoe on. Strange people.

Andy pulls a pugh and sits back lol...

There was a trainer left on Sunday and used condoms I'm glad they are sensible enough not to risk breeding but ffs, put it in a bin!!

If I had children, I'm damn sure I wouldn't want them picking a used condom up. I'm an adult, but even I don't want to be seeing that on the beach. (I wonder if that's where the term "organ grinder" stems from )

About time.

As PJ said, if you do want a cold one, if you have the intellect to swap bottles, I doubt you will fall in to the category of the typical drunken idiots that make the mess and break the peace...

we used to tell our kids that they were 'snake skins'. Worked for a while...

Yeah, the kids arrive at the beach early on when it is warm and are great - they are just kids having fun like kids should and being polite and considerate to everybody else ...... then later they get the ale down the necks and are obnoxious, dangerous twerps. Talk about bipolar, you would believe it is the same kids.

Im against this....

Theyll use the excuse of "Alcohol free zones" to ruin mine and my friends leisure time.

Over the years, we have often gone to west kirby beach and Heswall beach at a night, far away from anyone.. light a fire and enjoy some beers in the warm summer nights. We take our litter home with us, and put out any fires we make, and safely control them, so the alcohol ban is ruining my leisure time, because some people are too stupid to bin things !!!!!!!!!


Congratulations.... the government want kids and teenagers to become more active, get out the house etc.. but by banning social drinking in a social environment... looks like Ive been confined to the Xbox all summer

thing is the whole alcohol free zone thingy will hopefully deter dickheads who just want to get shitfaced on the beach and cause trouble.
if you're going and 'playing nicely' i doubt you'll get anyone looking worried and calling the police (in Heswall likely to be dog-walking quilted jacketed consultant + wife)

I can see both sides, hell I even like a beer myself, but my question would be why can you not have a good time and enjoy your leisure time without having a few beers?? You appeared to have a good time at Thurstaston and there wasn't a beer in sight

Places like public beaches are just that - public and for the enjoyment of everyone. Like everything else these days, it's the minority of idiots that spoil things for everyone else. You and your friends are the minority of people that do behave responsibly, and I'm sorry that you and those of us that are responsible citizens are being punished for the actions of the inbred, insolent, selfish idiots whose sole aim seems to be to get hammered, cause fear and distress, damage peoples property, assault innocent individuals and generally make everyone's lives hell Until they can be taken in hand i.e. when the namby pamby human rights crew shurrup and let Britain govern Britain, not Europe, I'm afraid this is the way the country will go.

It makes me sad that this once great country of ours, that my Father fought for, and other members of my family have died fighting for, has taken this turn, but I digress....

I don't think the idea of getting kids and teenagers out of the house and become more active involved alcohol though


*steps down off soapbox*

I was thinking of posting similar - the kids need to realise that enjoyment isn't being rat-faced - that is just running away from reality.