In this chapter, we locate the patterns of behaviour now routinely labelled as ‘binge drinking’ within spatial, economic and cultural changes associated with the growth of the night-time economy of British cities and towns since 1987 (see Taylor, 1999; Hobbs et al, 2000; Hadfield, 2006). We also explore recent policy interventions in respect of licensing hours, regulation and ‘liberalisation’. Such changes are, in part, facilitated by shifts in the governance of cities, and, in part, insofar as they are deemed to create ‘problems’, call forth change, particularly in policing and surveillance of urban spaces.

We argue here that a failure (1) to properly contextualise ‘binge drinking’ within significant shifts in leisure and consumption patterns, and (2) to acknowledge the potential for long-run negative consequences (for individuals, social networks and communities) (Taylor, 1999) has led to a myopic focus in recent policies on ‘harm reduction’ and on seeking to limit alcohol-related disorder. This policy vacuum is illustrated in the underlying tension between competing ideologies of the ‘citizen’ and the ‘consumer’. Within the former, appeals to ‘responsible’ drinking and civility figure, as does recognition of the importance of health education for citizens in the making. Within the latter, ‘lifestyle choice’ and identity are often the hallmark. More than ever, the consumer, especially the youthful consumer, is recognised as a ‘rational’ hedonist (Measham, 2004). While it is clearly viable to view participation as a hedonistic consumer within the urban night-time economy as an escape from or form of resistance to the regularities and discipline of the nine-to-five working day, the long-term impact on individuals in terms of health status, the implications of ‘unsafe’ sexual encounters or of violence (victim or perpetrator) and the possibilities of a criminal record highlight the limits of excess and transgression as ‘escape attempts’ (Cohen and Taylor, 1992; Taylor, 1999).

Binge drinking and anti-social behaviour

There is a great deal of UK media and political attention focused on alcohol consumption and its impact on public order and health, as witnessed by newspaper headlines, news reports and TV programmes such as Booze Britain. Nearly all local authority community safety strategies include tackling alcohol-related disorder in their plans. Tackling anti-social behaviour is one of the government's key priorities (and also a key area of public concern).