Revellers face festive fines

Christmas revellers will face a major campaign against binge drinking as they prepare for the biggest party night of the year.

In the latest move to tackle anti-social behaviour police will be given new powers to hand drunken yobs £80 on-the-spot fines. The Met has, however-made it clear that it will arrest revellers behaving anti-socially instead of imposing a fine.

“We know that the concerted blitz to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence and sales to under-18s over the summer worked,” said Home Office minister Hazel Blears. Police can now impose on-the-spot fines for buying or selling alcohol to under-18s.

Of 1,864 operations on targeted establishments, 45 per cent of licensed premises and 31 per cent of off licences were found to be selling to under-18s.

Meanwhile, temporary medical units will be set up in Cardiff to cope with drunken revellers. An emergency room will be set up at the Millennium Stadium. The units will also be set up on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.