Female drink offences soar
Updated on 01 May 2008
The number of women arrested for being drunk and disorderly has soared by up to 1,000 per cent in some places, Channel 4 News Online has found.
The number of women being arrested for drunk and disorderly (D&D) offences has soared by up to 1,000 per cent in parts of Britain, new figures reveal today.
The revelations have prompted calls from a chief constable for a ban on discounted drinks, 'happy hours', and alcohol advertising.
'There should be a ban on the sale of alcopops and no advertising of alcohol. 'Mike Craik, chief constable of Northumbria police
Campaigners say pubs and clubs are deliberately targeting women with cheap drinks offers and free entry in a bid to encourage them to drink more.
Mike Craik, chief constable of Northumbria police - where D&D arrests of women have risen from 1,414 to 2,101 in the past five years - said: "The reality is that clearly more still needs to be done, particularly about under age drinking and the associated youth disorder.
"That may well include rigorous action on the price of alcohol, a ban on advertising, increased education and advertising around the harm it can do, external regulation or even taking a uniquely harmful substance out of the normal retail chain.
"There should also be an end to discounted drinks, such as two-for-one deals, happy hours and supermarkets selling alcohol at below cost prices. There should be a ban on the sale of alcopops and no advertising of alcohol. Consideration should be given to pricing which is relevant to its strength."
He said Northumbria police have introduced a number of high-profile initiatives to combat drunken behaviour, designed to stop minor incidents escalating into more serious crimes. He said the increase in arrests was a clear indication of the police's pro-active approach.
Both police and medics have expressed concerns at the £1 a drink, and two-for-one venues which encourage binge-drinking in Northumbria, particularly Newcastle.
Channel 4 News online asked all 52 police forces in the UK for details of the number of women that had been arrested for D&D offences in the past five years.
Although 38 forces replied to the survey, only 21 were able to provide like-for-like figures over the five year period: it showed a 53 per cent increase in arrests, from 3,847 in 2003/4, to 5,891 in 2007/8.
Increase in arrests
West Midlands: 1138 per cent
Gwent: 578 per cent
Leicestershire: 135 per cent
More than half of the 38 forces that did reply detailed increases in D&D arrests. Some of the biggest increases were in the West Midlands, where there was a 1,138 per cent hike, and Gwent, where the rise was 578 per cent.
Don Shenker, chief executive of Alcohol Concern, said: "There's no doubt that the number of women binge-drinking has gone up - they are following the example of young men.
"Pubs and bars are now targeting women with special offers and cheap drinks to encourage them to drink more. It should be stopped.
"The recent tax increases in the Budget have also not been passed on; the drinks are still being offered too cheaply. The trouble is that women's bodies cannot handle these large amounts of alcohol."
'We feel the best way to change the drinking culture is through education'David Poley, chief executive of The Portman Group
David Poley, chief executive of The Portman Group, a pan-industry organisation set up in by leading drink manufacturers to help prevent misuse of alcohol, said:
"The industry takes its responsibility very seriously and markets its products in accordance with strict codes of conduct.
"I don't think that the price of alcohol is the main issue. Alcohol on the continent is a lot cheaper yet there are not the same problems that we have here.
"We feel the best way to change the drinking culture is through education."
Breakdown of drunk and disorderly arrests
You can see a list of the individual responses from each police force here.
Read more
Top ten chart
West Midlands
<1138 per cent increase>
03/04: 59 women arrested
04/05:166
05/06: 321
06/07: 531
07/08: 731
Gwent:
<578 per cent>
03/04: 28
04/05: 128
05/06: 146
06/07: 160
07/08: 190
Leicestershire:
<450 per cent>
03/04: 14
04/05: 15
05/06: 8
06/07: 10
07/08: 77
Cheshire:
<135 per cent>
05/6: 85
06/7: 91
07/8: 200
West Yorkshire:
<86 per cent>
03/4: 528
04/5: 360
05/6: 663
06/7: 1,091
07/8: 981
Dyfed-Powys:
<84 per cent>
03/4: 65
04/5: 96
05/6: 124
06/7: 103
07/8: 120
Essex
<82 per cent>
03/4: 112
04/5: 195
05/6: 182
06/7: 198
07/8: 204
Durham
<57 per cent>
03/04: 190
04/05: 250
05/06: 315
06/07: 297
07/08: 299
North Yorkshire
<55 per cent>
03/4: 135
04/5: 126
05/6: 215
06/7: 237
07/8: 209
Northumbria
<48 per cent>
03/04: 1,414
04/05: 1,343
05/06: 1,940
06/07: 1,800
07/08: 2,101
