Street drinking in Hounslow [PDF]

Street Drinking In HounslowStreet Drinking In HounslowInformation from both direct observation and interviews with businesses, residents and thosestreet drinking tell us that all parts of the borough have incidence of street drinking. Acomprehensive table of areas affected is available as Appendix 1.During the project the outreach workers observed several forms of street drinking across theBorough.Typical Street Drinking “Schools”This group is two or more drinkers who are stationary and drinking together. The term schoolrefers to an informal arrangement of pooling financial resources to ensure all involved will beable to drink over a weekly period. As a street drinker described, “We take turns to buydepending on who’s got paid (claimed benefits) that day.”Groups of drinkers were observed at least twice in the following locations:• Hounslow Bus Station/ London Road Bus Stops• Inwood Park• Avenue Park• Feltham Duck Ponds• Lampton Park• Hounslow Town Centre• Outside Job Centre• Behind Treaty Centre• Cranford Valley Park (Waye Avenue)• Bedfont Green• Brentford - St Paul’s Recreational GroundDuring the research period Inwood Park was particularly quiet and Hounslow Bus Station andthe bus stops just beyond on the London Road the busiest drinking area.Young PeopleYoung People gathering in parks consuming alcohol during the summer was commonplace, andcannabis smoking was also observed. Most of this activity occurred during the evenings withless incidences during the day. Broken glass left behind was problematic for young familiesusing the parks during the days. The evidence of glass suggested the consumption of bothAlcopops and spirits. Parks where this was seen to be a significant problem were:• Murray Park• Cranford Park• Bear Road Recreation Ground HanworthPage 8