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Boris to follow transport drink ban with London alcohol czar
Katharine Barney and Sophie Goodchild18.04.08
An alcohol czar for London has been proposed by Tory mayoral candidate Boris Johnson.
Mr Johnson has already said he will ban alcohol on the Tube and buses if he wins the election for Mayor.
He said: "There are already boroughs doing excellent work in tackling underage drinking and the pubs, clubs and shops that encourage it. A London alcohol czar is one idea that could help to roll out policies that work across the boroughs."
He is also prepared to publish league tables naming and shaming councils which fail to act against pubs and bars which sell alcohol to children.
During his meeting with a panel of Evening Standard readers, the Tory candidate went on to pledge to introduce academic scholarships for university students. He said the awards would be funded by the London Development Agency or the promised Mayor's Fund for London, financed by private businesses.
However he stopped short of offering free travel for all students, a pledge from his Lib-Dem rival Brian Paddick.
When asked about students he promised to look at the option of free travel but said: "What I will give the students, and I hope it will help lots of poor students, are scholarships. I think we should be using the Mayor's funds, maybe from the Mayor's Fund for London, to have scholarships based on academic merit for student who are finding it very hard to afford their student loans, their top-up fees and all the other burdens they have."
Mr Johnson also stood by one of his major pledges - to make London safer.
He said he would start by chairing the Metropolitan Police Authority and would concentrate on addressing so-called "minor" crime which he said is often not reported. He also reiterated plans for an online crime map on which people could view the number of crimes reported in their area.
Reader views (5)
Is that it? An alcohol Czar. Certainly sounds like Russian tactics to me.
Appoint a Czar and blame it on kids.
What a cop out.
- Minnie Ovens, USA
It's interesting that you avoid the spelling traditionally associated with Russia when either would suffice. Especially since a 't' is the most commonly used.
- Gray, Midlands
It's alright Boris, you can get back in your box soon.
- Barry L Smith, London
Some fresh thinking. Not just Labour's creeping state and punitive taxes. I work for an international company based in the west end and it's frankly embarrassing when people visit London and tell me that they just can't understand the yob culture they see around them and the vomit and urine in the streets in the morning. Something definitely needs to be done well done Boris. More ideas like this please.
- Tim For Change, London, UK
This sounds like a good idea actually. I think this is what the London Development Agency should be doing - really focusing money to make a difference to people's lives. The Labour Government have made going to university such an expensive exercise that it will surely deter some bright children who simply cannot afford to go.
I also think that getting alcohol off our streets will make a difference. It is all about cutting so called 'minor' crime - people are increasingly turning a blind eye to it. If you want a drink have it at home or in a pub - not on the bus!
- William, London
