LISS Parish Council has been told that it is unlikely any alcohol exclusion zones will be created in the village. The council had enquired about the possibility of placing booze bans at trouble spots to help drive down under-age drinking. But East Hampshire District Council's community officer, Louis Gidley, has written to members saying such a scheme would not solve the village's problems. In a letter read out by clerk Dick Bowery at Monday's parish council meeting, Mr Gidley said: "Ninety-nine per cent of the problems in the area are caused by under-age drinkers who are congregating in the area and causing a problem. "This would not be solved by an alcohol exclusion zone, which is a device aimed more at city centres and parks where adults (normally with drink problems) congregate and cause problems." But Mr Gidley added that the possibility of implementing "dispersal orders" in areas such as the village centre were still under investigation. "The police have powers to deal with under-age drinking, but at this time we are currently trying to put in place dispersal orders for places such as the railway station so that once youths have been warned to leave the area they cannot return – otherwise they will be arrested. "This will put pressure on the youths to move out of the village centre. "I know this is not a long-term solution but, hopefully, it will make the village a nicer place in the evenings."
