All you can drink deals fuelling violence; MINISTER TO CRACKDOWN ON CHEAP BOOZE.

Byline: BEN GLAZE

A FLAGSHIP UK Government policy to tackle binge drinking has been a success - despite never being used, policing minister David Hanson said yesterday.

The Delyn MP said the fact no council had designated an alcohol disorder zone - designed to limit excessive drinking by punishing licensed bars - proved Britain's alcohol culture was under control.

But he warned the Government would look into new ways of cracking down on problems caused by cheap drink deals.

He slammed all-you-can-drink offers and happy hours promotions, which he blamed for fuelling binge-drinking and town centre violence.

He said: "The vast majority of alcohol retailers are behaving very well and the vast majority of individuals who go out to drink behave very well.

"But we need to look at putting in place a range of measures so the potential is there when there are difficulties with poorly performing retailers."

He also warned he wanted to find new ways of controlling bars where violence was a recurrent problem.

The Home Office faced criticism earlier this month when it emerged not one council had designated an alcohol disorder zone, despite the Government hailing it as a major weapon in its fight against binge-drinking.

Mr Hanson said: "If there is a range of nuisance or disorder on or near a premises, if that's likely to recur then we need to look at what we do with those premises."

"The alcohol disorder zone policy is extremely important.

"Like anti-social behaviour orders, it's a last resort for local communities to have and I think it's working in the sense that none has been used.

"It means that the problems that might have led to an alcohol disorder zone have been tackled downstream.

"It's always going to be a nuclear option, and the fact we haven't got any shows this was a success in reducing concerns."

Mr Hanson, who became Policing Minister last month was speaking on a whistle-stop visit to Cardiff Bay.

He spoke after he met with chief officers from the four Welsh police forces including acting North Wales Chief Constable Clive Wolfendale.

Mr Hanson also used his visit to the Senedd to attack Plaid Cymru calls for policing to be devolved to Cardiff Bay.

He said: "Policing should not be devolved. Policing is an England and Wales issue.

"We are working very closely with the Assembly.

"We have a settlement on policing issues and I think that's a settlement that's worked in the past and will work in the future."

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David Hanson (right) has hit out cheap deals on alcohol