Police have raised objections to a request by a Milton Keynes shop to sell high-strength alcohol.
The Point Kiosk in Central Milton Keynes currently have a restriction in their alcohol licence that "no alcohol with alcohol levels above 6% will be sold at the premises".
It means they are currently unable to sell many spirits and high-strength lagers.
Now the shop have applied to Milton Keynes Council for the restriction to be removed, but Police say it would have a "detrimental impact on the local community".
Giving a response to the Council on the request, Thames Valley Police Licencing Officer Gemma McCormack said "At the time of [the original] application, the majority of the anti-social behaviour complaints linked to street drinking we received were linked to persons drinking high strength lagers and ciders, with an ABV of 6.5% and above."
"Central Milton Keynes is also subject to a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) which prohibits the consumption of alcohol within the area. The local Neighbourhood team which covers the area are currently receiving repeat complaints of anti-social behaviour linked to people drinking high alcohol volume beers and ciders within the PSPO area."
"The locations of these street drinkers tend congregate outside small off licences or outside residential flats. Through enforcement of the PSPO this summer, the street drinkers who were predominately drinking outside of the flats, have moved their activities to within their own homes."
"The street drinkers who congregate outside of off licences, appear to target off licences who sell higher strength alcohol."
"In 2019, majority of the anti-social behaviour complaints received about Central Milton Keynes, were linked to street drinkers congregating near two off licences, situated in separate areas of Central Milton Keynes."
"One group was reportedly more aggressive than the other, so we attempted to work with the licensee connected to this group to to reduce the negative impact their customers were having on the local community."
"We reached the point where formal review of the licence was being prepared, when they closed the store and subsequently surrendered the licence."
"The are several other off licences in Central Milton Keynes, who do not sell high strength lagers or ciders and we do not receive anti-social behaviour drinking complaints from outside of these premises. That indicates that the alcohol strength is linked to this anti-social behaviour."
Councillors are set to consider the matter at the Licensing Sub-Committee this Tuesday evening.
