Adams calls for end to drink promotions

World Cup drink promotions must be given the red card if anti-social behaviour is to be tackled, Gerry Adams warned today.

The Sinn Féin President urged Stormont Justice Minister David Ford to take action against cut-price alcohol offers similar to the measures being proposed in Scotland.

He raised concerns about cheap pricing and a perceived tolerance of on-street drinking during a meeting with Mr Ford about crime in his west Belfast constituency.

They were among 10 proposals Mr Adams and his party colleagues asked the minister to consider.

"You will see for example around the World Cup coming up the huge promotions by some of these big retail outlets," he said.

"There's an ongoing issue about the availability of alcoholic and how it's treated differently from other drugs.

"And then there's the whole issue of tolerance of street drinking which just needs to be stopped."

While the senior republican said legislative changes would be required to clamp down on alcohol pricing, he said many of the Sinn Féin proposals could be implemented fairly easily.

They included the police's definition of hot spots, how officers deals with call outs and the supervision management procedures of repeat offenders.

He said the rights and views of victims had to be paramount.

A spokesman for Mr Ford described the meeting as useful and positive.

He said the proposals would be considered and responded to fully.