Ceredigion council backs extension of alcohol-free zones

Ceredigion Council Cabinet has backed the extension of alcohol-free zones in three Welsh towns for an additional three years. The Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) apply to the town centres of Aberystwyth, Cardigan, and Lampeter.

These orders allow authorities to prohibit drinking in designated public areas to combat anti-social behaviour. Under the current rules, it is an offence to ignore a request from a police or authorised officer to stop drinking or to surrender alcohol. The current measures are set to remain in place until October 19, 2026.

While local town councils and county councillors supported the renewal, Dyfed-Powys Police noted a lack of substantial evidence regarding an ongoing need. Police data indicated only seven incidents in the preceding 12 months where street drinking was identified as a contributing factor, leading officials to suggest that the low number of recorded incidents makes it difficult to prove the restrictions remain necessary and proportionate.