A bylaw which will ban drinking alcohol in designated public places may be introduced in Brighton and Hove.

Chief reporter David Edwards looks at how the scheme has worked in Glasgow and Coventry.

In the mid Eighties alcohol was blighting Coventry city centre.

It became common to see drunks crouched in doorways swigging from bottles and in the evenings lager louts would roam the streets intimidating people.

Peter Collard of the City Centre Company said: "We had a lot of problems particularly with lager louts that were causing a real nuisance to people coming into the city.

"It got worse during the Eighties and that's why a group of us pressed the council to do something."

In 1988 the city council acted by introducing a unique bylaw which banned drinking in public. Anyone caught flouting the new regulations in the city centre was hit with a £100 fine.

Signs were put up declaring areas alcohol-free zones and extra police were put on duty when the scheme was launched.

Although the ban was originally introduced for a two-year trial period, it proved such a success that it has become permanent.

Mr Collard said: "As a result of the bylaw, the people of Coventry just generally don't drink outside any more and things have greatly improved."

He puts the success of the scheme down to the council working with police and traders. If shopkeepers see nuisance drinkers, they can radio the force and officers can be on the scene within minutes to tell them to pour the drinks away or face prosecution.

There have been about ten prosecutions so far, said Mr Collard.

"Since the ban came in, crime has gone down, tourism is up and it has been a great success."

A similar ban was introduced in Glasgow in 1996 with offenders facing a fine of up to £500. It was brought in after bylaws in other Scottish communities, such as Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, saw violent crime rates fall by almost half.

Coun Geoffrey Theobald, leader of Brighton and Hove Council's Tory group, called for a similar bylaw in the towns five years ago. He said: "I am all in favour of people sitting at tables outside pubs and restaurants and having a drink but I am against people going out deliberately to get drunk as happens particularly in Kemp Town."

In June, Kemp Town residents called for a zero tolerance policy towards beggars and drunks in and around St James's Street.

It came after the St James's Street Area Action Group heard how assaults and violent crimes in the area shot up by 63.3 per cent between 1997 and last year with much of the rise put down to alcohol.

The proposed ban has been put forward by Coun Jackie Lythell and it won all-party support at an authority meeting this week. Council officers are now examining the best way of implementing it.

Safer Coun Lythell, who represents the Queen's Park ward, said: "I have friends in Glasgow and they say the general street environment seems to be much safer than it was before the bylaw.

"I have put it forward very much in response to the wishes of local people.

"I've spoken to the St James's Street Area Action Group and one of the things they have highlighted is the street-drinking problem. While a ban isn't the complete answer it could change the whole climate of the areas affected.

"We all welcome street culture but there has to be a balance between that enjoyment and the well being of local residents.

"I believe that balance has been tipped the wrong way in St James's Street where the level of violence and disturbance is unacceptable."

Mark Rawlings, manager of St James Tavern in Madeira Place, Kemp Town, said: "The bylaw will clear one area up but push the problem somewhere else. Street drinkers will always be around whatever laws you impose. But it's got to be worth bringing in because maybe it will help."

Tony Mernagh, town centre manager for Brighton, said: "This is long overdue because drinking in the street is becoming more of a problem, not just in Brighton but nationwide and any law which proposes to solve it must be welcomed."

He said Pelham Square, the Old Steine, gardens off Queen's Road and St James's street were the worst affected areas.

"There is a drink crisis centre which actually provides a wet room where problem drinkers can drink so there is really no excuse for them to be on the streets.

"If people want to get drunk then it's up to them, but they shouldn't force it on others."