New intelligence helps tackle night-time drunkenness epidemic

University scientists have developed a novel new data source on Alcohol Licensed Premises that are potentially breaking the law in serving alcohol to drunken customers.

Under the Licensing Act 2003, it is an offence to sell, or attempt to sell, alcohol to a person who is drunk. Records show that between September 2012 and March 2013, 306 night-time revellers were admitted to Cardiff's Alcohol Treatment Centre (ATC)* with very severe alcohol intoxication.

Throughout the six-month period, testimony received from patients – and their friends - receiving treatment for intoxication, named 76 of the city's licensed venues as having serving them their last drink.

The University's Violence and Society Research Group analysed the data provided by the ATC, thus providing new insights into potential breaches of license conditions. The top five most frequently named venues - where according to patients and people accompanying them - they received their last drink - are as follows:

1. Walkabout (testimonies: 8.17%)
2. Oceana (testimonies: 7.84%)
3. Glam (testimonies: 6.86%)
4. Vodka Revolution (testimonies: 4.58%)
5. Soda Bar (testimonies: 3.92%)

Other venues named include Lloyds Bar (3.59%), O'Neill's (2.94%) and the Cardiff Students' Union (2.94%). One in ten (10.78%) people who ended up needing treatment for intoxication said they'd taken their last drink in a private residence, while 6.54% said they'd obtained their last drink on the street.

Director of Cardiff University's Violence and Society Research Group, Professor Jonathan Shepherd, who developed the data-sharing model, said: "We're confident that these are reliable data and that this is an important new source of intelligence for tackling the epidemic of night-time drunkenness in Cardiff and the harm and expense it causes. This new intelligence will help continue the reduction in levels of injury and disorder in the city centre."

*The Alcohol Treatment Centre is a collaboration between the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, South Wales Police, Wales Probation Trust, both Cardiff and Vale local authorities, Wales Ambulance Trust, St. Johns Ambulance, the R.C. Archdiocese of Cardiff, and the Street Pastors Scheme