Civic leaders are getting together to thrash out measures to prevent Bournemouth becoming "one big boozer."

The "full and frank debate" will come after a local health expert yesterday warned that thousands of people are drinking "hazardous and harmful" levels of alcohol.

Addressing a conference in Bournemouth, Dr Adrian Dawson, director of public health for Bournemouth and Poole, described drinking among the elderly as "the silent epidemic."

His comments came after Helen Newlove, the widow of a man kicked to death outside their Warrington home, said he would still be alive if more had been done to curb the behaviour of drunken gangs.

Father-of-three Garry Newlove was murdered after confronting a mob of youths who had vandalised his wife's car on August 10 last year.

Bournemouth town centre councillor David Smith told environment and economy scrutiny panel members a meeting would be held later this month, amid claims that some residents feel "alienated" by the resort's night-time economy.

Questioning whether pubs and off-licences should help pay for policing the town centre, the council's cabinet member for the community said: "The night-time economy is a vast subject.

"I think there is a pattern emerging. The cheap availability of alcohol from supermarkets and off-licences, combined with kids helping themselves to their families' booze cupboards mean people are half plastered before they go out.

"They turn up in town at 11 or 12 in the night, not spending as much in pubs and clubs as one would imagine because of the cost.

"Is it fair that bars and clubs should end up contributing towards policing costs in the borough? Police are not totally convinced."

Cllr Smith added: "The whole issue of alcohol is a national one; God knows what it will do to our NHS in the future.

"The government are just passing over the problem to local authorities without dealing with the core issue: cheap, freely available alcohol."

Cllr Smith said he hoped that, with the support of local MPs, civic leaders would be able to come up with some "concrete solutions.

"We can have a full and open debate about the town centre becoming one big boozer and discuss any measures we can take to improve the situation."

His comments came after Throop and Muscliff ward councillor Ron Whittaker asked what steps were being taken to combat binge drinking and anti-social behaviour in the town.

  • The Safer and Stronger Overview Panel meeting will be held on January 31 at the Town Hall.