STUDENT boozing in Southampton city centre should be brought under control using Government laws on antisocial behaviour, Cabinet minister John Denham said last night.

The Communities Secretary and Southampton Itchen MP urged the City Council to impose an Alcohol Disorder Zone (ADZ) on drinking hotspot Bedford Place to prevent boozing sessions fuelled by cutprice drink deals getting out of hand.

The step – described by the Home Office as a measure of “last resort” for tackling high levels of alcohol-related nuisance or disorder – would see local pubs charged a levy to pay for the costs of any extra policing and enforcement provided by the local authority and Hampshire Constabulary.

The cost of the ADZ to licensees might in turn force an end to the price war between rival pubs and clubs that has resulted in a proliferation of 2-4-1 promotions, free shots, and £1 pints and spirit mixers in the area.

Mr Denham’s call for action comes just days after the Daily Echo exposed the problems caused each Tuesday night including drunken brawls and streets littered with smashed glass, takeaway trash and vomit.

Residents are enduring sleepless nights, police resources are stretched to their limit and the council is left to clean up the mess.

Reported incidents of violent crime, ranging from minor public disorder offences to GBH, have increased by 66 per cent in three months.

In his role as Communities Secretary, Mr Denham was today set to announce that Southampton City Council will receive £54,000 to pay for extra training for frontline staff who are leading the battle against nuisance behaviour amid Government concerns that many of the powers it has introduced to tackle the problem – including ADZs – are not being used effectively.

The cash, part of £10m to be allocated across England, will help teach council officers, tenants’ leaders and members of the public how to make the most of Labour’s laws against yobs and drunks.

Under the settlement, Hampshire County Council and Isle of Wight Council will each receive £44,000 to update their antisocial behaviour policies, train neighbourhood wardens, and launch information campaigns for residents.

Ministers believe that many of the measures the Government has brought in – including acceptable behaviour contracts, Asbos and community agreements, as well as ADZs – are not being used as much as they could by local councils and others.

Asked yesterday whether the investment would help tackle the nuisance behaviour reported in Southampton’s Bedford Place, Mr Denham said: “Yes, absolutely.

Wherever a problem comes from, whether it's youth issues or alcohol, in most cases the legislation and powers are in place to tackle the problem.

“This is about ensuring frontline staff in councils and local communities understand there are measures like ADZones. We want to make sure people know those powers are there, and who can initiate them, so people can ask, ‘why can't we use it in our area?’”

Mr Denham later called on Southampton City Council to consider imposing an ADZ in the city but refused to discuss his views on fixing minimum prices for alcohol.

The minister said: “We want to spur more action, faster action and more effective results so people can be confident that problems are being tackled and stopped.

“We have got the right measures and where they are used they work.

We don’t need more measures but now we need to make sure they are properly used.”