Banned from partying like it's 1999!

Wednesday 18 December 2019

People in Alderney will no longer be able to party all night long, like it's 1999 on New Year's Eve, following an explosion of drunken violence last year.

Pubs in the island were permitted to extend closing time from 00:30 on 1 January until 10:00 for the millennium celebrations 20 years ago, and the licensing extension had been granted every year since then.

But, for the first time in 19 years, pubs have been denied that extension.

At a civil court licensing application, Jurats heard how last year only the Mai Thai had stayed open until 10:00 on 1 January, staging a lively all night disco. Around 300 revellers were packed inside, with unfortunate consequences that spilled out onto the pavement outside.

One party-goer was injured while underage drinkers vomited in the road.

Pictured: Mai Thai Restaurant in Alderney.

When licensees from the Coronation Pub, The Georgian, The Campania and the Mai Thai applied for extended hours this New Year's Eve, it was rejected by Sgt James Taylor on behalf of Alderney Police.

Placing his objection before the Jurats, Sgt Taylor explained the police resources has been stretched to the limit last year, when inebriated partiers reignited disputes with one another.

Previously, several establishments had remained open until 10:00. However, licensees of smaller premises have since found it is not viable to stay open all night, meaning those who want to continue drinking are funnelled into one venue.

"In previous years people who have historical disputes could stay apart in different venues if they wanted to continue to party all night," Sgt Taylor said. "Now they are all crowded into one place. You have one event with two-to-three hundred people in one location with no door supervisors or people checking proof of age.

"Last year, police were called to Mai Thai for an alleged assault, there were a number of under aged youths vomiting on the pavement and unsteady on their feet and one 15-year-old was almost unconscious and admitted to the Mignot Memorial Hospital with excess alcohol. There was a wounding incident and one which left a man with serious head injuries.

"Having assessed the threats and risks from last year, I don't believe it to be safe."

As New Year's Eve was a busy time for Guernsey Police as well, there was little extra help available from other officers.

Chairman of the Jurats, Neil Hunter, offered a compromise of permitting an extension until 03:00, with last orders at 02:30.

He added that any licensees found to be serving under age drinkers would find themselves in front of the bench.

Those present said they were satisfied with the outcome, as did Sgt Taylor.