A CITY councillor has called for alcohol to be banned at Echo Arena Liverpool shows in a bid to cut disorder.
Cllr Paul Clein said his recent experience of being at close quarters to a drunken punch-up at the recent Leonard Cohen concert had prompted his proposal.
The suggestion – which will be discussed with the Arena’s board – would follow the recent move to stop concert-goers leaving the building to smoke during performances and intervals.
While city leaders are concerned alcohol-fuelled disorder should not be tolerated, they are mindful that “if customers don’t have a good experience, they will not return.”
They and Arena managers said they do not want” to punish the overwhelming majority of concert-goers”, but Cllr Clein called on the council to look further into the issue.
At Wednesday’s meeting of the full council, former education executive Cllr Clein asked whether a policy of banning people bringing alcohol into the performance could be recommended to the Arena Board.
He added: “At the Leonard Cohen concert, I saw two people come to blows a few feet from me, brought on by excessive alcohol.”
A written question he submitted included a statement that he believed the current alcohol policy “would seem to be discouraging some people from buying tickets for events at what is an otherwise excellent venue.”
