More Businesses Support Royal Greenwich's ‘Reduce The Strength’ Campaign!

* Cllr Jackie Smith

by our RBG Correspondent | Woolwich

More businesses than ever before have signed up to the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s ‘Reduce the Strength Campaign’- a borough wide effort to encourage off-licences to take cheap, high-strength lager and cider off the shelves.

Since the start-up of the scheme in 2013, over 70 off-licences across the borough have signed up and are now firmly committed to not selling any beer, lager or cider over 6.5%.

The campaign has been especially popular in Woolwich Town Centre where the vast majority of businesses are now participating in the scheme. However, new outlets in Plumstead, Abbey Wood, Woolwich Riverside and Glyndon have also joined in the last year.

Police and Royal Borough of Greenwich Licensing Officers are specifically targeting those streets and roads that have historically attracted a higher level of alcohol related crime and anti-social behaviour. Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent Helen Millichap said:

“The success of the Reduce the Strength campaign demonstrates how partnership working between the Metropolitan Police, the Royal Borough of Greenwich and local businesses can achieve significant reductions in alcohol-related crime. We will continue to use this targeted, multi-agency approach to tackling alcohol abuse throughout the borough.”

Business owners participating in the scheme have seen noticeable declines in such incidents of crime especially along Herbert Road, Woolwich in which every off-licence has committed to ‘Reduce the Strength.’

Councillor Jackie Smith, the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety & Environment welcomed the surge in businesses joining the campaign, stating: “It is very encouraging to see the Royal Borough of Greenwich and local businesses working so closely together to stop the very serious issue of alcohol abuse."

 

"The Reduce the Strength campaign delivers on so many fronts including reducing anti—social behaviour, tackling street drinking, limiting the availability of cheap, high-strength lagers and ciders and also helping those struggling with addiction to seek help through a range of drug and alcohol treatment services.”

The Reduce the Strength campaign is part of a three pronged approach to tackling alcohol abuse in the borough. This entails engaging with local businesses to reduce the availability of high strength drinks, working alongside Greenwich Drug and Alcohol Treatment services to ensure that residents are receiving specialist treatment and support for their addictions and, finally, working collaboratively with Public Health, the NHS and other partners to educate the public on the dangers of high alcohol consumption.

For help and guidance from local organisations on alcohol addiction, please visit:

 www.greenwichcommunitydirectory.org.uk 

and search ‘alcohol.’