DRINKING alcohol on the streets of a troubled York neighbourhood could now leave people with a financial and criminal hangover.

An outdoor booze ban in the Walmgate area came into effect this week, leaving offenders facing a fine of up to £500 and a criminal record.

Police and community safety chiefs who have imposed the ban - the first of its kind in York - believe the move will help tackle alcohol-related nuisance and crime in the area.

Shopkeepers in Walmgate complained that their parade of stores had become a meeting place for street drinkers and drunken youths.

They claimed that they were vandalising prooerty and deterring customers.

Jane Mowat, director of the Safer York Partnership, said improving the environment for Walmgate residents, business people and visitors was a long-term project.

She said the drinking ban was part of a range of measures including council evictions, tenancy enforcement and police operations in the area.

"This is a victory for the Walmgate and Navigation Road Crime Action Group and a major step forward in cracking down on alcohol-fuelled nuisance behaviour in the area.

"It gives police officers the power to target exactly the kind of problems that residents and shop owners have asked us to look at," she said.

Dick Haswell, licensing officer for City of York Council, said: "The council designated this area in response to concerns expressed through the Safer York Partnership about the nuisance cause by street drinking.

"We hope the powers given to the police will help them combat nuisance and other problems caused by alcohol and street drinkers."

The alcohol exclusion area is bordered by land to the north of Paragon Street, east of Piccadilly, west of Foss Islands Road and south of the River Foss. Prominent warning signs have been placed at entrances to the exclusion area.

A similar ban has been made in Museum Gardens.

The order, under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, makes it an offence to consume alcohol. Police officers can confiscate booze and containers.

If drinkers refuse to heed a warning they will be committing a criminal offence and can be prosecuted in court where they will face a maximum fine of £500.

Updated: 14:02 Thursday, May 13, 2004