This is the final form of the sign, it has taken ages to agree it due to the sloppy way the Home Office guidelines were presented. This is the government web-site to blame, go and see what we had to deal with.

http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/alcoholorders/alcoholorders01.htm

Especially read the FAQs the answers to which cancel out the content and leave you with no clear guidance at all so that we were then faced with massive conflict of opinions instead of a simple application of a code of practice. Some wanted a complete ban, some wanted a softer option but the by-law system that gave all these options had been superseded by the Act leaving only this one route to reclaiming our open spaces. The biggest bone of contention however was the sign, first the symbol. The model sign has no slash and so like a speed limit sign signified that you could drink up to two cans and a bottle. To get the slash delayed us over a month and a blizzard of e-mails. Then the text bogged us down again as the devil as usual is in the detail. The result is not good English its built up of key phrases taken from numerous sources. Its a camel (a horse designed by committee) but it is legal and it should work.

NOW THE KEY ISSUE IS THAT WHEN CONFRONTED BY OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOUR YOU DO NOT HAVE TO RESPOND DIRECTLY, COMPLAIN TO THE POLICE, OBTAIN AN INCIDENT NUMBER, THEY THEN WILL DEAL WITH IT.

Geof

This is the finally agreed version of the sign that will now be put up in the three designated areas.

The Playing Field, The Spinney and the Memorial Garden.

Notice that under the order the offence is disorder not drinking. The criminal offence is failing to obey the police officer. This means that it will not impact at all on normal village activities. We may sell alcohol and drink it as usual, we have simply given the police the means whereby they can put a stop to the unacceptable excesses.

Geof