Agenda item

Licensing Officers presented a report to the Partnership on the Reducing the Strength Scheme (RTS). It was founded by the Local Government Association, and it’s aimed to uphold the licensing objectives, reduce alcohol accessibility, promote public health and reduce alcohol related Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB). The Scheme asks off-licences to voluntarily agree to stop selling beer, larger and Cider with an alcohol content above 6.5% ABV.

RTS had been implemented initially within the Stockton Town Centre area (Specifically the Operation Shield Area). This area was chosen over concerns raised by the Community Safety Team regarding premises that served ‘high strength, low cost’ alcohol.

Often those buying the high strength low-cost alcohol are people who are intoxicated / beggars / known street drinkers. These people then often go onto cause issues within the Town Centre such as ASB, aggressive begging, littering and other crime which deters the general public from entering the Town Centre. Licensing Officers had observed alcohol related ASB first hand and identified the perpetrators as mainly consuming cans of cider which could be found at a very low cost of £1.29 per can in most shops within the Town Centre.

 The consultation on the scheme began in July 2024 and ranged from face to face visits to letter drops which advised premises of the implementation of the scheme. Officers received positive verbal feedback on the scheme from a number of premises. As the response for written feedback was low Officers again undertook additional face to face engagement in February 2025, requesting electronic feedback. Five out of six of the premises who responded advised they would be willing to partake in the scheme. Positive feedback received stated ‘We are supporting and obey the rules of council for the wellbeing of society especially for the elders and children’ and another stating ‘No one needs a strong drink to enjoy a drink’.

On 21st May 2025 Officers visited all fifteen premises within the scheme area, nine verbally agreed to reduce the strength of their alcohol sold and to participate with the scheme.  During the consultation the Community Safety Team and Cleveland Police gave feedback in support the Scheme.

The Scheme was launched on 25th September 2025, participating retailers were provided with posters and involved in the promotion and comms around the scheme. The nine participating premises gathered for a photo which was shared through the Councils social media channels.

Those participating premises were as follows:

-       Addison Newsagents – 102-104 Church Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1TW.

-       Pickwicks (formerly D&S News) – 8 High Street, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1UB.

-       Iceland – Wellington Street, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1NH.

-       B&M Stores – 139-139A High Street, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1LW.

-       Heron Foods – 8A Castle Way, Castlegate Centre, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1AL.

-       Savers – 7 Wellington Square, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1RG.

-       Yarm Lane Convenience Store – 53 Yarm Lane, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 3DL.

-       Quick News - 101 High Street, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1BD.

-       Fani Vapes - 49-51 Yarm Lane, Stockton-On-Tees, TS18 3DL.

Going forward the scheme would be monitored through statistics of alcohol related incidents which would be checked to identify hotspots. This would allow officers to identify any premises which may be causing an issue or if it is due to out of areas retailers. Promotion of the scheme would continue through the Councils social media and the Licensing website. A QR code was included on the posters for the scheme which provides a link to a webpage with further information on the Reduce the Strength Scheme.

Partners from Public Health, Cleveland Police and the Community Safety Team praised Officers for their hard work on the Scheme. All partners noted the success of the scheme would have a positive impact in their own spheres. Members also praised the joined up working of partners in the Safer Stockton Partnership which was making Stockton Town Centre a place residents want to come and spend time in.

Members AGREED to note the report.