SOUTHEND’S shopkeepers are being asked to stop selling cheap, super-strong booze in an effort to reduce antisocial behaviour, crime and health problems in the town.

Southend Council and Essex Police are appealing to shops to clear their shelves of beer and cider above 6 per cent proof.

At present many shops are selling three litres of 7.5 per cent proof cider for as little as £3.99.

Traders have given the request for a voluntary ban on “rocket fuel”, but say it will only work if everyone signs up to it – so drinkers can’t simply move to shops still selling it.

Residents have praised the idea, saying some roads become antisocial behaviour hot-spots where people drink on the street at all hours and drop litter.

However, two shops have already volunteered to back the plan. Harpans Express in Queens Road and Londis in Southchurch Road are both no longer selling cheap, strong drink.

Harpans Express manager Harry Singh said: “Since we voluntarily removed high-strength alcohol from our shelves, we haven’t seen a dip in trade, but we have seen a reduction in alcohol fuelled antisocial behaviour in the area around our premises, which has benefited both staff and customers alike.”

Businesses signing up will be allowed to show “Reducing the Strength” window stickers under the scheme – part of the Southend Public Health Responsibility Deal, by which organisations pledge to act to improve the health and wellbeing of staff and customers.

Latest figures show Southend Hospital recorded 32,225 alcohol related admissions in 2012/13 at a cost the to NHS of £9.5million.

Ian Gilbert Labour councillor responsible for community development, said: “I don’t think banning the sale of these drinks will solve the problem, but anything we can do will go to reducing it.

“Alcohol-related disorder increases fear of crime and that creates an unpleasant environment for everyone.

It damages the perception of the town. Those who drink to excess regularly put pressure on the health service.

Negotiations with chain stores are ongoing. They will probably have national policies, which we need to influence, but we are having dialogue with chains, big and small.”

Mr Gilbert said he understood small traders’ reluctance to be the first, but hoped there would be a “tipping-point” where traders saw it as the norm.

He added: “Anecdotally, other shops have said it doesn’t damage trade, because places that attract people who are drinking discourage other customers, who don’t want to be in that environment.”

‘EVERYONE MUST SIGN UP OR WE’LL SUFFER’

SHOPKEEPERS have mixed feelings about the scheme, with some fearing it will damage their business.

Dennis Thavarajah, who runs York Superstore in York Road, said: “We buy from the cash-and-carry. If the cash-and-carries stop selling it, we will all stop.

“But if we stop, and our competitors don’t, we will just lose business.

“People who buy alcohol also buy other things, like chocolate or chewing gum, and it all helps.”

Sunil Patel, 56, who runs Fine Foods, in Sutton Road, Southend, said he had never sold high-strength booze and felt this had been good for business as his neighbours appreciated his stand and shopped with him.

He added: “The people who come in are sensible drinkers who will take their 5 per cent alcohol home to drink, rather than loitering with their high percentage drinks.

“I don’t encourage people to drink like that and we don’t trade late, as we don’t want to encourage antisocial behaviour for the people living around here.

This scheme is a brilliant idea, as alcohol can cause a lot of problems. If they don’t get hold of it, it will give them a better life.”

Residents say move will curb street boozers

THE scheme has been welcomed by residents.David Cartwright, 49, of York Road, said he had to live with the implications of cheap booze as locals drank on his street all through the night.

He said: “This part of York Road is really bad for it. A lot of guys who drink sit outside.

“They hang around the corner from where I live and when I go out in the morning, there are cans and bottles all over the place.

“I have been out at 6am in Sutton Road and there have been five or six people outside a newsagents, drinking their Special Brew.

“I drink it myself, but I just drink it at home a couple of nights a week. If they stopped selling it, it wouldn’t bother me.

I’d just drink more coffee, but people around York Road would be up in arms about it.”

Another man who works in York Road but asked not to be named added: “This is what happens on a poverty-stricken street.

“They have nothing to do, so they just sit outside and drink.

“It is right near the Jobcentre, so those on benefits can get their money and just come round the corner to buy their cheap alcohol.

“This is a good idea, because street drinking has got worse over the past six years.”