Call to extend no-drinking zones

Pat Ramsey says there should be a blanket ban on city centre drinking

Derry City Council should widen its ban on drinking in public in order to tackle alcohol abuse, an MLA has said.

The SDLP's Pat Ramsey said there should be a blanket ban in parks, the city centre, and more residential areas.

He said the reality of the city's alcohol problem was "all to clear on the streets, homes, A&E units and mortuaries in Derry every weekend."

He has also written to the Department of Social Development asking for new legislation to be implemented.

This would give the police stronger powers to prevent on-street drinking.

The manager of the City Centre Initiative, Sean Trainor, said he supported Mr Ramsey's call but said it could create difficulties.

"We would want to be assured that by trying to solve one problem we're not creating another.

"By that I mean, what if a resident in the city centre wants to have a barbecue in their front garden?

"And is it going to have an impact on the smoking areas of bars?" he said.