DRINKERS in Croydon may have to pass a breathalyser test before they are allowed into town centre clubs and pubs in a move to crack down on alcohol-related violence.
The Met have launched a trial of the new policy in Croydon, where bouncers can use a breathalyser to test to check whether punters are drunk.
Police say the move will help door staff make judgements on who is, and is not, too drunk to enter premises. The breath alcohol limit has been set at 70 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, twice the legal limit for driving.
Violent crime in Croydon was up by 33 per cent in 2014 and figures show that the town centre is a hot spot for alcohol-related violence.
Borough Commander Chief Superintendent Andy Tarrant told the Advertiser his force was working with pubs and clubs to tackle the problem.
"We now have introduced breathalysers whereby for those people that drink before they go out, they're now breathalysed before they go into a venue so they can be turned away if they're found to be drunk."
The move would help to cut down on binge-drinking and the practice of 'pre-loading', where people drink before heading out, he added.
Croydon council has purchased six breathalyser units to be used in the town centre from the start of February.
