Responsible Consumption of Alcohol in Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO)
We’re taking action against irresponsible alcohol use.
Under our Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), the police and authorised Council officers can give a £100 fine, or £1,000 if prosecuted, to those who are drinking alcohol in public places and behaving anti-socially.
An officer can tell people to:
- stop drinking alcohol or anything that is believed to be alcohol
- hand over any alcohol or anything an officer believes to be alcohol, whether its sealed or not, so it can be disposed of
Find the full Responsible Consumption of Alcohol PSPO (PDF, 311KB).
Where the PSPO applies
The PSPO applies to all public and council housing land in the borough, including:
- parks
- open spaces
- public roads
- pavements
- car parks
- estate roads
- communal areas on estates
This order does not apply to Hampstead Heath.
What the PSPO means
The PSPO does not mean a ban on alcohol in public spaces. It will not be an offence to drink alcohol in public.
The PSPO is about anti-social behaviour while drinking alcohol.
What counts as anti-social behaviour
Anti-social behaviour while drinking in public places could include:
- littering
- noise
- violence
- verbal abuse
- intimidation
Why we need a Responsible Alcohol Consumption PSPO
Most people drinking alcohol in Camden do so responsibly and do not have a negative impact on our communities.
But there are community concerns around anti-social behaviour while drinking alcohol. associated with some alcohol consumption.
The PSPO allows us to take action against irresponsible drinkers and limit their negative impact.
This can stop behaviour getting worse, help us to refer people to support pathways and make sure our public places can be enjoyed by everyone.