Laurence Turner, the Member of Parliament for Northfield, has voiced his worries about the impact of having betting shops and off-licences side by side on a bustling Birmingham high street. Speaking in Parliament, Mr. Turner highlighted the troubling pattern he described as a “revolving door” between establishments selling cheap, high-strength alcohol and nearby bookmakers.
The high street is home to well-known betting chains such as William Hill, Betfred, and Admiral, located adjacent to off-licenses offering low-cost beers and ciders with high alcohol content. Mr. Turner emphasized that this proximity significantly contributes to antisocial behavior and local disturbances.
“Something needs to be done about the sale of particular high-strength drinks on our high streets, especially when they are positioned close to betting shops,” he said in his parliamentary speech. “If you visit Northfield High Street, you will see a sequence of small betting shops immediately next to off-licenses selling cheap, strong alcoholic beverages. This close link is a major factor in the antisocial problems affecting our community.”
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To address these issues, Mr. Turner suggested considering new measures, including granting local authorities greater powers to regulate sales or introducing changes to the tax system to discourage super-strength alcohol consumption in these areas.
On social media, he further expanded on his stance: “There’s nothing wrong with having a drink or a flutter, but I believe there is a strong case for more local control over the sale of cheap super-strength drinks near betting shops.”
His call for change underscores a growing concern about the social impact of concentrated alcohol and gambling outlets in close proximity, urging for policy reviews to improve the well-being and safety of high street communities.