Town halls have set up more than 500 alcohol-free zones around Britain in an attempt to stamp out binge drinking and antisocial behaviour.

Some authorities operate a council-wide ban, where drinking is prohibited in all open-air public places, while others have a policy of banning drinking in hotspots where there has been trouble in the past.

Police in these designated areas have the powers to confiscate opened cans of beer or wine bottles and pour the contents down the drain. Offenders who refuse to hand over the alcohol can be arrested, prosecuted and fined up to £500.

The Local Government Association said that councils were free to decide how they controlled the zones, whether they operated within certain hours or for 24 hours and whether there were any age restrictions.

In most areas contacted by The Times, councils have decided to adopt a light-touch approach, intervening only to avoid potentially dangerous or troublesome behaviour.

Although there might be a blanket 24-hour ban on drinking in public places, the police turn a blind eye in unthreatening situations. “A family having a picnic in Hyde Park drinking a few glasses of wine would be unlikely to be approached,” said a spokesman for Westminster City Council, which operates a public place drinking ban in 90 per cent of the borough, which covers 8 square miles (21 sq km).

Westminster has operated an alcohol-free zone for more than three years to try to stamp out rowdy behaviour in Central London. Matthew Norwell, the acting assistant director of crime and disorder at Westminster, said that the policy had been introduced to tackle rough sleepers and homeless beggars who, when they had drunk too much, often intimidated people.

The policy was extended as part of the safer streets campaign to crack down on drunken and disorderly behaviour throughout the capital. “The police can effectively stop anyone they see drinking in outdoor public places and pour cans down the drain,” Mr Norwell said. He added that they could also confiscate bottles or cans that they believed to contain liquor.

Mr Norwell said that the scheme was operated mostly by the Safer Streets team of police and community officers. In some cases they would target specific areas or use more officers during heavy-drinking periods such as Christmas.

Brighton and Hove council has also operated an alcohol-free zone throughout the authority for several years. The police exercise discretion, but in general anyone caught drinking in the streets will have the alcohol confiscated. A spokesman said that drinking would be allowed in open-air cafés spilling on to the streets, but otherwise officers would stop drinkers in parks, squares and streets.

The spokesman said that the policy had started in one area of Brighton after complaints from local residents about rowdy behaviour. But as the scheme proved successful in reducing disorder it was extended across the district, covering a population of 250,000. “We adopt a light-touch approach mainly to tackle antisocial behavour such as excessive rowdiness, begging, aggressive behaviour and bothering other people,” he said.

Different tastes

Spain Several regions have introduced laws to curb drinking in public places, in response to a scourge they call the botellón, literally, the “big bottle”: crowds of youths occupying a square, sitting on the ground and drinking from large bottles into the small hours. AndalusÍa, among others, has introduced “ antibotellón” laws, stopping supermarkets and 24-hour shops from selling alcohol after 10pm and allowing police to break up parties

Germany There is a general debate on banning drinking in public places, including city parks and playgrounds. Power to deal with the issue is devolved to regional level and the law differs from city to city. The sight of people walking the streets or relaxing in parks with cans of beer is still common

Belgium The home of European beer has no truck with public-drinking bans. Drinking is a common sight in the public spaces of most towns and cities, symptomatic of a culture of outdoor bars and cafés

France Has a laissez-faire attitude towards the issue, with no restrictions and no reported debate

Finland National levels of alcoholism have so worried the Finns that the law has been changed to prevent the sale of alcohol before 9am

United States Restrictions vary enormously – not only state to state, but county to county. In general, drinking in parks, beaches and the streets is banned. You can swig openly in the French Quarter of New Orleans, as you can in the streets of Las Vegas, Nevada. The strongest thing you can buy in the “dry” states of the Deep South is iced tea. Drink-driving has only just been banned in Montana

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