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QPR fans furious over council drinking restrictions

Summary:

Hammersmith and Fulham Council are restricting drinking around Loftus road on match days.

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By Harry McAlister

Queens Park Rangers fans are furious following a council decision to restrict drinking around Loftus Road on match days.

The White Horse, O’Donoghues and The Central Bar have been singled out as harbourers of trouble and drinking outside is now prohibited before 11:00am and for six hours during matches.

This no-nonsense approach is fast gaining the Hammersmith and Fulham Council a reputation as a tough competitor.

‘Cumulative Impact Zones’ in Shepherds Bush have banned the sale of super-strength booze and glass bottles in off-licences and introduced a borough-wide ban on street drinking.

New powers to confiscate alcohol and pour it down the drain have further exacerbated the already ticklish relationship between fans and police.

Lifetime QPR supporter Stephen Cook said: “There is no reason at all to be so stringent. The only trouble I have encountered in 25 years was last year when Millwall supporters began behaving like animals.

“QPR is a family friendly club whose fans pride themselves on good behaviour.”

Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler, chairwoman of the Licensing Sub-Committee, said: “The aims of these decisions is to ensure that irresponsible drinking by football fans is stamped out in Hammersmith and Fulham and we hope that these licensing decisions can help eradicate the problem.

“We have already made Hammersmith & Fulham a controlled drinking zone and will continue to stand up for the silent majority of our residents.”

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