ALCOHOL in its place forms a part of many people's lives, allowing for pleasure and relaxation. A sunny summer's day seems perfect for drinking outdoors, perhaps at a private barbecue or on the street outside a public house or caf.

In recent years York has, sometimes in defiance of the weather, been keen on introducing the caf society, with continental-style cafs and bars that spill on to the street. Visit many European cities and there is nothing unusual about having a drink in the sun.

The problem with alcohol and the outdoors is that there is a great deal of social distance between someone sitting quietly in a park and sipping a cold beer and rowdy groups of drinkers who have downed too many cans or bottles and are making life difficult for others.

Sadly, the law can sometimes have difficulties distinguishing between the non-threatening drinker, the picnicking visitor who fancies a glass of wine with their al fresco meal, and the trouble-makers high and quarrelsome on too much drink. So all outdoors drinking has to be treated with some suspicion.

Hence a new initiative in York which aims to reclaim the city's parks and open spaces from rowdy drinkers.

Police officers are being encouraged to confiscate alcohol and arrest drinkers in sites across the city, calling on powers contained in the new Criminal Justice and Police Act.

Three areas have been selected: Museum Gardens in the city centre; Glen Gardens in Heworth; and land behind Poppleton Community Centre in Upper Poppleton.

Anyone seen drinking in these designated areas can be asked to hand over their alcohol. A refusal to do so could lead to an arrest.

As is so often the case, an anti-social minority could spoil the party for everyone else.

Drinking outdoors is not in itself harmful. Fortunately, the new powers will tend only to be used to control rowdy drinkers. Used with discretion, the law should not trouble the more genteel, non-threatening drinkers. Which, if it works, is how matters should be.

Updated: 12:14 Wednesday, June 19, 2002