Alcohol ban at Wembley shuns police advice

A BAN on alcoholic drink will be imposed on the streets surrounding Wembley Stadium despite police concern about public disorder.

The decision of Brent council, in north-west London, to enforce a new by-law with the penalty of a pounds 500 fine, affects thousands of football, rugby and pop fans. Police advice is that the ban would be 'practically impossible' to enforce among 80,000-strong crowds and that it would inflame public order problems. The ban will also create an anomaly whereby someone could drink legally in the forecourt of a pub near the stadium, but would be breaking the law if he or she stepped on to the pavement.