‘The park can be scary’: Norwich alcohol rules expansion

Norwich City Council is looking to expand regulations to stop antisocial behaviour caused by alcohol.

No drinking signage is around Eaton Park.

Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) rules are currently in the city centre, but could soon cover the whole Norwich district area.

The PSPO allows police to confiscate and dispose of alcohol if someone is “committing anti-social behaviour or is judged to be likely to cause anti-social behaviour”, the council say.

Police can also issue £100 fines if you continue drinking after being asked to stop.

These regulations have been in place in Norwich city centre since 2021, but the council are concerned the problem has been displaced to other areas of the city. 

The planned expansion would include parks around the city, including Eaton Park. 

The park covers 80 acres and multiple playgrounds.

Locals in Eaton have differing opinions, but generally agree that reducing public drunkenness is a positive step. 

Agis is a dentist who walks his dog in the park.

He said “the park, especially in the evenings, can be quite scary for some.”

“Public drinking is always causing an issue, especially when there are families around and children.”

Caroline is having lunch with her friend and dogs in the sun.

Caroline doesn’t think drinking is an issue here. 

She said “in the city centre you often find that you get groups of [drunk] people, which is not very nice.”

Hattie is in the park to practice rollerskating.

Hattie didn’t know these rules existed. 

She said “I understand the good intention of keeping people safe.

“I worry… it’s not really treating the wider holistic issue of why people are drinking.”

Norwich City Council said the Norwich Community Safety Partnership includes several organisations that “work together to tackle the causes and prevent crime and disorder holistically in Norwich.”