Big rise in drink arrests of women

The number of women arrested for being drunk and disorderly has risen by more than 50 percent in the past five years, and soared by over 1,000 percent in some areas, police figures showed on Friday.

West Midlands police recorded one of the highest percentage rises, 1,138 percent to 731 arrests, while Gwent police recorded a jump of 578 percent to 190. Leicestershire saw a 135 percent increase to 77 arrests.

Campaigners said the figures reflect the deliberate targeting of women by pubs and clubs with cheap drink offers and free entry.

Mike Craik, chief constable of Northumbria police, where such arrests rose by 48 percent to 2,101, called for action on pricing, a ban on advertising and increased regulation.

"There should also be an end to discounted drinks, such as two-for-one deals, happy hours and supermarkets selling alcohol at below cost prices," he told Channel 4 News Online.

"There should be a ban on the sale of alcopops and no advertising of alcohol. Consideration should be given to pricing which is relevant to its strength.

The figures from 38 of the 52 UK forces were collected by the station's online team.

Of the 38 who responded, only 21 were able to provide like-for-like figures over the five-year period.

Those showed a 53 percent increase in arrests, from 3,847 in 2003/4, to 5,891 in 2007/8.

The Portman Group, a drinks industry organisation which campaigns against alcohol abuse, said it takes its responsibility seriously and works within codes of conduct.

It told Channel 4 that education rather than pricing was the key issue.