Courtney Pochin | Senior Lifestyle Reporter
Published July 1, 2026 9:13am
Updated July 1, 2026 9:18am
With summer in full swing, Londoners are taking advantage of the weather by heading to the city’s parks.
And while some will go all out with picnics, others will go there with tinnies to simply enjoy a drink in the sunshine.
But if you’re heading out in Camden, you might want to be on your best behaviour going forward.
That’s because from July, a new rule regarding public drinking is coming into force across the borough, and those breaking it could be fined £100.
What’s the new rule?
A Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) has been approved by the local council to tackle anti-social behaviour linked to alcohol consumption in public places.
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The aim is to make Camden a safe place for everyone and a responsible drinking area.
There’s no outright ban on drinking in parks and other public spots, but this change means that police and local council enforcement officers will have the power to order individuals to stop drinking alcohol if they’re engaging in anti-social behaviour.
What’s more, they’ll also be able to confiscate any alcohol (or any beverage believed to be alcohol) for the same reason.
Failure to comply with these requests from an authorised officer could result in a fixed penalty notice of £100, or you could potentially face prosecution.
Those receiving a fixed penalty will have 28 days to pay the fine, but it will be discounted to £60 if paid within 14 days. Those who do not pay on time could be prosecuted.
Once the PSPO comes into force in July, it will last for three years. After this time, the council will have to decide if they’ll renew it.
It will be enforced across almost all of Camden, except Hampstead Heath, which is managed by the City of London Corporation.
Similar drinking rules are already in place in several other London boroughs, including Westminster, Islington, Wandsworth, and Haringey.
Croydon has an area-specific order, targeting its town centre, while Sutton has park-specific alcohol control orders.
What counts as anti-social behaviour (ASB)?
According to the Camden.gov.uk site, anti-social behaviour is defined as behaviour which causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm, or distress to persons not in the same household.
Any behaviour that makes you feel unsafe should be reported, including:
- Graffiti
- Littering
- Threatening behaviour, verbal and physical threats and abuse
- Harassment, including incidents based on race, gender, religion, disability or sexual orientation
- Vandalism or property damage
- Drug-related ASB
Are there any exemptions to the rule?
Anyone drinking outside a licensed venue is exempt from this rule, as the council is keen to ‘strike a balance between promoting a vibrant and inclusive night-time economy’ and put a stop to anti-social behaviour.
The only other exemption occurs if an authorised figure requests someone to stop drinking or tries to confiscate drinks, but cannot show evidence of their authorisation, then the request is invalid.
Speaking about the PSPO, Cllr Patricia Callaghan said: ‘We know that the majority of alcohol consumption in Camden is carried out in a responsible way.
‘We want people to enjoy themselves, and it doesn’t have a negative impact on our community.
‘Where there are community concerns around anti-social behaviour associated with some alcohol consumption, we hope that this PSPO will help to alleviate these issues.’
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